Use of Chart-Stimulated Recall to Explore Uncertainty in Medical Decision-Making Among Senior Internal Medicine Residents.

BACKGROUND: Uncertainty is common and impacts both patients and clinicians. The approach to uncertainty in medical trainees may be distinct from that of practicing clinicians and has important implications for medical education. OBJECTIVE: Describe trainee approach to uncertainty with the use of chart-stimulated recall (CSR)-based interviews, as well as the utility of such interviews in promoting reflection about decision-making among senior internal medicine (IM) residents. DESIGN: Qualitative analysis of CSR-based interviews with IM residents. PARTICIPANTS: Senior IM residents rotating on inpatient night float at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center from February to September 2019. INTERVENTION: Each participant completed one, 20-min CSR session based on a self-selected case in which there was uncertainty in decision-making. Interviews explored the sources of, approaches to, and feelings about uncertainty. APPROACH: Two independent coders developed a codebook and independently coded all transcripts. Transcripts were then analyzed using thematic analysis. KEY RESULTS: The perceived acuity of the patient presentation was the main driver of the approach to and stress related to uncertainty. Perceived level of responsibility in resolving uncertainty during the overnight shift also varied among individual participants. Attending expression of uncertainty provided comfort to residents and alleviated stress related to uncertainty. Residents felt comfortable discussing their uncertainty and felt that the opportunity to think aloud during the exercise was valuable. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrated a novel approach to the exploration of uncertainty in medical decision-making, with the use of CSR. Variations in resident perceived level of responsibility in resolving uncertainty during the overnight shift suggest a need for curriculum development in approach to uncertainty during night shifts. Though residents often experienced stress related to uncertainty, attending expression of uncertainty was an important mitigator of that stress, emphasizing the important role that the trainee-attending interaction plays in the diagnostic process.

A Multifaceted Intimate Partner Violence Communication Skills Curriculum Increases Screening Among Internal Medicine Residents.

Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is common, yet physicians do not routinely screen patients for IPV. There are no clear recommendations for best educational practices for physician trainees that improve screening rates. Materials and Methods: We implemented an IPV curriculum combining didactics and communication skills training for internal medicine residents. Didactics included definitions, risk factors, screening recommendations, and documentation; communication skills training included developing unique screening and response phrases; and two simulated patient exercises. The primary outcome was screening documentation rates as measured through pre- and postcurriculum chart review. Secondary outcomes included knowledge, comfort, and attitudes measured through pre- and postcurriculum administration of an adapted Physician Readiness to Manage Intimate partner violence Survey (PREMIS). Postcurriculum semistructured interviews provided further details regarding behaviors and attitudes. Results: Forty residents completed the curriculum. 29/40 (73%) completed both pre- and postsurveys. Fifteen participated in semistructured interviews. Residents demonstrated increased screening documentation postcurriculum (p < 0.05). Residents showed improvement in 80% of objective knowledge questions, and in all perceived knowledge and comfort-based questions (p < 0.01). Statistically significant improvement was noted in many attitudinal domains, including reported screening rates (p < 0.05). In the semistructured interviews, participants reported experiencing both practice-based improvements and ongoing screening barriers. Practice-based improvements included increased screening comfort and frequency, and strengthening of the doctor-patient relationship. Ongoing screening barriers included time, resistance to practice change, competing medical needs, and personal discomfort. Conclusions: A multifaceted IPV curriculum for residents significantly improved documentation rates, knowledge, comfort, and attitudes. Residents reported increased comfort with screening and strengthened patient relationships but acknowledged ongoing barriers to screening.