Evaluation of the 'Talking Together' simulation communication training for 'goals of patient care' conversations: a mixed-methods study in five metropolitan public hospitals in Western Australia.

INTRODUCTION: In partnership with Cancer Council Western Australia (WA), the East Metropolitan Health Service in Perth, WA has developed a clinical simulation training programme 'Talking Together' using role play scenarios with trained actors as patients/carers. The aim of the training is to improve clinicians' communication skills when having challenging conversations with patients, or their carers, in relation to goals of care in the event of clinical deterioration. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: A multisite, longitudinal mixed-methods study will be conducted to evaluate the impact of the communication skills training programme on patient, family/carer and clinician outcomes. Methods include online surveys and interviews. The study will assess outcomes in three areas: evaluation of the 'Talking Together' workshops and their effect on satisfaction, confidence and integration of best practice communication skills; quality of goals of patient care conversations from the point of view of clinicians, carers and family/carers; and investigation of the nursing/allied role in goals of patient care. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study has received ethical approval from the Royal Perth Hospital, St John of God and Curtin University Human Research Ethics Committees. The outputs from this project will be a series of research papers and conference presentations.

Parents' perception of their child's weight status and intention to intervene: a Western Australian cross-sectional population survey, 2009-12.

OBJECTIVE: To report on parents' perceptions of their child's weight status and how the child's body mass index (BMI) is associated with parent intentions to change or maintain the child's weight. METHODS: Estimates were derived via data collected from 4,437 parents from 2009 to 2012 as part of the Western Australian Health and Wellbeing Surveillance System. To measure weight perceptions, parents were asked, "Is your child underweight, normal weight, overweight or very overweight?" BMI values were also derived via parent-reported height and weight. Parent intentions were assessed by asking parents, "What are your intentions regarding your child's weight?" RESULTS: Significantly fewer parents perceived their child as overweight (8.2%) or very overweight (0.2%) than was derived via parent-reported height and weight (16.3% and 5.8%, respectively). More than half the parents with children above or below the healthy BMI range reported an intention to "do nothing" about their child's weight (between 54.5% and 70.0%). CONCLUSIONS: A large proportion of Western Australian parents misjudge their child's weight status and the majority express no intention to help their child achieve a healthy weight. IMPLICATIONS: The results reinforce the importance of population-level, parent-focussed interventions targeting perceptions of children's weight and appropriate action.