"Best Case/Worst Case": Training Surgeons to Use a Novel Communication Tool for High-Risk Acute Surgical Problems.

ABSTRACT:

Context

Older adults often have surgery in the months preceding death, which can initiate postoperative treatments inconsistent with end-of-life values. "Best Case/Worst Case" (BC/WC) is a communication tool designed to promote goal-concordant care during discussions about high-risk surgery.

Objective

The objective of this study was to evaluate a structured training program designed to teach surgeons how to use BC/WC.

Methods

Twenty-five surgeons from one tertiary care hospital completed a two-hour training session followed by individual coaching. We audio-recorded surgeons using BC/WC with standardized patients and 20 hospitalized patients. Hospitalized patients and their families participated in an open-ended interview 30 to 120 days after enrollment. We used a chec

SUBMITTER: Kruser JM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5374034 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature