How I do it: Meeting Milestones Through a Communication Coaching Program

Abstract

Objective: An existing communication coaching program was adapted to address an educational gap to enhance the communication skills of surgical residents.

Design: Expert communication coaches observe surgical residents in various clinical settings and provide detailed feedback and recommendations for improvement.

Setting: Observations occur across diverse clinical environments, including inpatient and outpatient settings, peri-operative contexts, team meetings, and skills labs.

Participants: Participants include general surgery and integrated residents, with an initial focus on chief residents, later expanding to include all levels of surgical trainees.

Results: Residents reflected that: this is not a domain about which they otherwise receive direct feedback; they appreciate having space to explore their approach to complex interactions; and they experience increased confidence in their interactions with patients, families, peers, and staff. The program adapts easily to various clinical settings, allowing for comprehensive evaluation and individualized feedback. It addresses both personal and systemic factors affecting communication.

Conclusions: This communication coaching program was effectively tailored to the needs and demands of a surgical training program. The program's success underscores the importance of having real-life, direct observation and personalized feedback regarding communication training as part of surgical education. Effective communication skills are an important foundation for creating the most effective future surgical leaders.

Keywords: Interpersonal skills; coaching; communication skills; doctor-patient relationship; professionalism; surgical education.