A Systematic Scoping Review on Pedagogical Strategies of Interprofessional Communication for Physicians in Emergency Medicine

Zhi H Ong; Lorraine H E Tan; Haziratul Z B Ghazali; Yun T Ong; Jeffrey W H Koh; Rachel Z E Ang; Chermaine Bok; Min Chiam; Alexia S I Lee; Annelissa M C Chin; Jamie X Zhou; Gene W H Chan; Gayathri D Nadarajan; Lalit K R Krishna

doi:10.1177/23821205211041794

A Systematic Scoping Review on Pedagogical Strategies of Interprofessional Communication for Physicians in Emergency Medicine

J Med Educ Curric Dev. 2021 Oct 16:8:23821205211041794. doi: 10.1177/23821205211041794. eCollection 2021 Jan-Dec.

Authors

Zhi H Ong^{1

2}, Lorraine H E Tan^{1

2}, Haziratul Z B Ghazali², Yun T Ong^{1

2}, Jeffrey W H Koh^{2

3}, Rachel Z E Ang^{2

4}, Chermaine Bok^{1

2}, Min Chiam⁵, Alexia S I Lee⁵, Annelissa M C Chin⁶, Jamie X Zhou^{2

7

8}, Gene W H Chan^{1

9}, Gayathri D Nadarajan¹⁰, Lalit K R Krishna^{1

2

5

8

11

12

13}

Affiliations

¹ Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
² Division of Supportive and Palliative Care, National Cancer Centre Singapore, Singapore.
³ National University of Singapore, Singapore.
⁴ Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
⁵ Division of Cancer Education, National Cancer Centre Singapore, Singapore.
⁶ Medical Library, National University of Singapore Libraries, Singapore.
⁷ Lien Centre for Palliative Care, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore.
⁸ Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore.
⁹ National University Hospital, National University Health System, Singapore.
¹⁰ Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.
¹¹ Palliative Care Institute Liverpool, Academic Palliative & End of Life Care Centre, UK.
¹² Centre for Biomedical Ethics, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
¹³ PalC, The Palliative Care Centre for Excellence in Research and Education, Singapore.

Abstract

Background: Interprofessional communication (IPC) is integral to interprofessional teams working in the emergency medicine (EM) setting. Yet, the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has laid bare gaps in IPC knowledge, skills and attitudes. These experiences underscore the need to review how IPC is taught in EM.

Purpose: A systematic scoping review is proposed to scrutinize accounts of IPC programs in EM.

Methods: Krishna's Systematic Evidence-Based Approach (SEBA) is adopted to guide this systematic scoping review. Independent searches of ninedatabases (PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, Scopus, PsycINFO, ERIC, JSTOR, Google Scholar and OpenGrey) and "negotiated consensual validation" were used to identify articles published between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2020. Three research teams reviewed the data using concurrent content and thematic analysis and independently summarized the included articles. The findings were scrutinized using SEBA's jigsaw perspective and funneling approach to provide a more holistic picture of the data.

In total: 18,809 titles and abstracts were identified after removal of duplicates, 76 full-text articles reviewed, and 19 full-text articles were analyzed. In total, four themes and categories were identified, namely: (a) indications and outcomes, (2) curriculum and assessment methods, (3) barriers, and (4) enablers.

Conclusion: IPC training in EM should be longitudinal, competency- and stage-based, underlining the need for effective oversight by the host organization. It also suggests a role for portfolios and the importance of continuing support for physicians in EM as they hone their IPC skills.

Highlights: • IPC training in EM is competency-based and organized around stages.• IPC competencies build on prevailing knowledge and skills.• Longitudinal support and holistic oversight necessitates a central role for the host organization.• Longitudinal, robust, and adaptable assessment tools in the EM setting are necessary and may be supplemented by portfolio use.

Keywords: communication; emergency medicine; interprofessional; medical education.

Publication types

Review