Purpose: The purpose of this study was to create an interdisciplinary educational simulation session for Obstetrics and Gynecology residents to model shared decision making in the context of second trimester abortion toward improved recognition of its benefits and comfort with its techniques.
Background: Studies have shown that involving the patient in decision making results in positive psychological impacts for patients after second-trimester abortion. While many residency programs are beginning to recognize the importance of shared decision making, there is still a gap in general medical education.
Methods: Fifteen total residents participated in a simulated clinical encounter using standardized patients with associated didactic and debrief sessions. Pre-test surveys evaluating base knowledge of second trimester abortions and concepts related to shared decision making were compared to immediate post- and three-month follow-up surveys evaluating knowledge retention and session satisfaction.
Results: Twelve participants completed pre-test, post-test, and three-month follow up surveys. Eleven (90%) participants disclosed that the simulation was helpful in demonstrating the importance of shared decision making in their personal practice. Resident comfort was increased in counseling patients with the full range of medical options (75%), eliciting patient’s value systems and coping styles (50%), minimizing provider bias (75%), managing difficult conversations (42%), and being able to identify appropriate auxiliary resources for patients undergoing a second trimester abortion (75%).
Discussions: This observational study demonstrates the benefit of a simulated session for resident education in shared decision making by highlighting its clinical importance and improving resident skills and comfort in several of its technical aspects.
Topics: CREOG & APGO Annual Meeting, 2021, Resident, Residency Director, Medical Knowledge, Interpersonal & Communication Skills, Practice-Based Learning & Improvement, GME, Simulation, Standardized Patient, Team-Based Learning, Contraception or Family Planning,
Conrad Stern-Ascher, MD, NYP-Columbia University Medical Center; Nancy Fang, MD; Rini Ratan, MD
