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. 2022 Jul 28:3:883138.
doi: 10.3389/fresc.2022.883138. eCollection 2022.

Effect of an interprofessional small-group communication skills training incorporating critical incident approaches in an acute care and rehabilitation clinic specialized for spinal cord injury and disorder

Anke Scheel-Sailer  1   2 , Stephanie Eich  1 , Luca Jelmoni  1 , Patricia Lampart  1   2 , Michael Schwitter  3 , Diana Sigrist-Nix  1   4 , Wolf Langewitz  5
Affiliations

Effect of an interprofessional small-group communication skills training incorporating critical incident approaches in an acute care and rehabilitation clinic specialized for spinal cord injury and disorder

Anke Scheel-Sailer et al. Front Rehabil Sci. .

Abstract

Aim: To investigate the impact of site-specific inter-professional small-group communication skills training (CST) that incorporates critical incident approaches to learning on patient satisfaction with communication.

Setting: Rehabilitation clinic specialized for spinal cord injury/disorder (SCI/D).

Methods: Retrospective observational cohort study design using patient and health-professional self-report data. Data for patient satisfaction with communication were collected in 2014 (existing records) and each year from 2015 to 2021 (post-program; volunteers) using the MECON survey.

Results: Fifteen basic (n = 161 participants), 16 refresher (n = 84), and five short (n = 17) CST seminars were conducted. Overall, 262 employees (105 physicians, 63 nurses, 36 physio- and occupational therapists, and 58 others) participated; 92 participants (response rate 37.6%) responded to feedback surveys. They rated the seminars positive concerning the alternation between theory, discussion, and practical exercise in 91.3%, and rated the length of the training ideal in 80.2%. Post-program patient satisfaction overall increased from 83.1% (confidence interval (CI) 2.6%) to 90% (CI 0.8%; R2 = 0.776; p= 0.004). It was higher in specific communication-related topics: "receiving information" (81.1%, CI 3.1-90.2%, CI 1.0%; p = 0.003), "being able to bring in concerns" (83%, CI 1.0-90.8%; R2 = 0.707; p = 0.009) and "being treated with respect" (89.4%, CI 2.6-94.4%, CI 0.8%; R2 = 0.708; p = 0.004).

Practice implications: Inter-professional CST is feasible and well accepted by professionals from various professional groups. During seven years of continuous training, independent patient ratings of satisfaction with professional communication have improved significantly. Participants attest to the training's high credibility and usefulness in everyday life.

Keywords: health communication; interdisciplinary communication; intersectoral collaboration; patient-centered care; pragmatic clinical trials; rehabilitation research; spinal cord injury; teacher training.

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Conflict of interest statement

Author MS was employed by MECON Measure and Consult GmbH. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. The authors of the study were also engaged in the steering committee of the intervention. Even when the results (participants feedback and patients surveys) are independent of the authors the presentation of the study might be biased.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Patients' satisfaction measured with an institution-specific questionnaire of an independent institute (MECON).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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