Better Conversations for Better Informed Consent: A Pilot Study to Automate Surgeon Training and Evaluate Patient-Reported Outcomes
University of Wisconsin, Madison
Summary
The purpose of this study is to evaluate a new training program to support communication between surgeons and their patients. The goal of the training program is to help patients get the information they need to make treatment decisions that are right for them. Participants will complete surveys, attend a focus group, or receive training on Better Conversations, depending on the type of participant.
Description
Observational research shows that surgeons translate informed consent and shared decision-making standards into an overly complicated technical explanation of the patient's disease and treatment, and an overly simplified narrative that surgery will "fix" the patient's problem. They omit critical information about the goals and downsides of surgery and struggle to actualize the patient's role in medical decisions, while unintentionally concealing professional expertise. "Better Conversations" is a novel communication framework designed to address these problems. With this framework, surgeons pr…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18+ years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria: Surgeons: * Surgeons from University of Wisconsin - Madison Department of Surgery who have an outpatient surgical clinic and treat adult patients at UW Health Surgical candidates: * Age 18 or older * Present to an enrolled surgeon's clinic with a surgical problem * Decision making ability * Speak English Stakeholders: * Must have previous experience with surgery (within 10 years) * Speak English Exclusion Criteria: Surgeons: * Solely treat minors (under age 18) Surgical candidates: * Lacking decision making capacity * Unable to speak English Stakeholders: * Una…
Interventions
- BehavioralTraining on communication framework
Surgeons will receive training on the Better Conversations framework
- OtherFocus Group
Participants will attend a focus group to discuss the survey instruments used in this study which will help with future study design
- OtherSurveys
Participants will complete surveys regarding the surgeon's communication skills
Location
- University of WisconsinMadison, Wisconsin