Do pediatric hematology/oncology (PHO) fellows receive communication training?

The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) has established communication as a core competency for physicians in training. However, data suggest that most pediatric residents perceive inadequate training in the delivery of bad news and the majority of former trainees in pediatric oncology received no formal training in the delivery of bad news during fellowship. The study examines communication training in ACGME accredited US pediatric hematology-oncology (PHO) fellowship programs. An online survey was distributed to 315 PHO fellows in training via the American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology (ASPHO) fellow email registry. Each fellow received an initial request to participate and 2 reminders, while participation was encouraged through a random incentive drawing. One hundred and ten fellows (35%) responded. Eighty percent of respondents perceived communication training to be important to fellow education, however only 32% reported receiving communication training (other than direct observation). The most common reported teaching method of fellowship communication training was formal lecture (42%). Twenty-three percent of respondents reported neither communication training nor frequent feedback on their communication skills from faculty observation. This same group was the least satisfied with their programs' approach to teaching communication (P < 0.001). There is limited communication training in PHO fellowships despite ACGME requirements and fellows' interest in this training. Didactic learning remains the most frequently described training method, yet educational theory identifies the limitation of didactic lectures alone. Communication training employing novel teaching methods and emphasizing communication challenges identified by fellows should be developed and evaluated.

File W ，Bylund CL ，Kesselheim J ，Leonard D ，Leavey P ... -  《-》

The feasibility of implementing a communication skills training course in pediatric hematology/oncology fellowship.

Weintraub L ，Figueiredo L ，Roth M ，Levy A ... -  《-》

Are we training our fellows adequately in delivering bad news to patients? A survey of hematology/oncology program directors.

Hebert HD ，Butera JN ，Castillo J ，Mega AE ... -  《-》

Cross-Cultural Medical Care Training and Education: a National Survey of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Fellows-in-Training and Fellowship Program Directors.

Nageswara Rao AA ，Warad DM ，Weaver AL ，Schleck CD ，Rodriguez V ... -  《-》

Childhood cancer survivorship educational resources in North American pediatric hematology/oncology fellowship training programs: a survey study.

Childhood cancer survivors require life-long care by clinicians with an understanding of the specific risks arising from the prior cancer and its therapy. We surveyed North American pediatric hematology/oncology training programs to evaluate their resources and capacity for educating medical trainees about survivorship. An Internet survey was sent to training program directors and long-term follow-up clinic (LTFU) directors at the 56 US and Canadian centers with pediatric hematology/oncology fellowship programs. Perceptions regarding barriers to and optimal methods of delivering survivorship education were compared among training program and LTFU clinic directors. Responses were received from 45/56 institutions of which 37/45 (82%) programs require that pediatric hematology/oncology fellows complete a mandatory rotation focused on survivorship. The rotation is 4 weeks or less in 21 programs. Most (36/45; 80%) offer didactic lectures on survivorship as part of their training curriculum, and these are considered mandatory for pediatric hematology/oncology fellows at 26/36 (72.2%). Only 10 programs (22%) provide training to medical specialty trainees other than pediatric hematology/oncology fellows. Respondents identified lack of time for trainees to spend learning about late effects as the most significant barrier to providing survivorship teaching. LTFU clinic directors were more likely than training program directors to identify lack of interest in survivorship among trainees and survivorship not being a formal or expected part of the fellowship training program as barriers. The results of this survey highlight the need to establish standard training requirements to promote the achievement of basic survivorship competencies by pediatric hematology/oncology fellows.

Nathan PC ，Schiffman JD ，Huang S ，Landier W ，Bhatia S ，Eshelman-Kent D ，Wright J ，Oeffinger KC ，Hudson MM ... -  《-》