Logo image
Back
Impact of Communication Skills Curriculum on Comfort and Competence with Difficult Conversations in Neonatal Perinatal Medicine
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Impact of Communication Skills Curriculum on Comfort and Competence with Difficult Conversations in Neonatal Perinatal Medicine

Dipen Vyas and Sruthi R. Polavarapu
Journal of neonatology
03 Apr 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/09732179261435302
Featured in Collection :   Drexel's Newest Publications

Abstract

communication skills difficult conversations Neonatal-perinatal fellows training Education
Background Communication skills are vital in neonatal-perinatal medicine (NPM). Despite this, limited NPM fellowship programs have a standardized curriculum for training, and survey-based studies have shown that most fellows feel uncomfortable engaging in difficult conversations. Objective To assess the impact of a 2-year structured communications skills training curriculum on self-reported comfort using a survey-based questionnaire, and to objectively assess competence using a simulation test for NPM fellows using 360-degree evaluation by two different neonatologists, a “mock parent” and an NPM fellow. Methodology A series of four didactic lectures and 11 simulation sessions were conducted over 2 years. The comfort and competence of fellows were assessed using pre- and post-training self-assessed comfort (SAC) surveys, as well as two simulation-based communication skills assessment tests (CSATs) following the training. The fellow, mock parent, and two neonatologists independently assessed the fellows’ performance following the CSAT using an evaluation tool. Results A total of 11 fellows completed training (19 SAC surveys and 54 CSAT evaluations). Fellows reported higher comfort scores following the training [median pre-SAC score: 22.5 (IQR 18-27); post-SAC: 31 (IQR 26-36); P = .01]. Additionally, analysis of the evaluation of the CSAT score showed improvement with increasing levels of training [PGY4: 22 (IQR 16-23), PGY5: 21 (IQR 14-22), PGY6: 23 (IQR 21-24), P = .04] and between the first and second attempts [first: 20.5 (IQR 14-23), second: 23.5 (IQR 20-24), P = .03]. No difference in score was found between different raters. Fellows scored lowest in the use of appropriate verbal and/or non-verbal language [SPIKES skills 9 (IQR 8-10), language 8 (IQR 7-8), emotional scores 8.5 (IQR 8-9), P = .003]. Conclusion The incorporation of a structured communication skills training can play a vital role in the comfort levels of NPM fellows conducting difficult conversations and can improve competence following communication skills training.

Metrics

1 Record Views

Details

Logo image