Goals, Values, and Priorities of Hospitalized Patients: Using a Structured Communication Tool to Engage Medical Students in Serious Illness Communication

Julia L. Frydman, Laura P. Gelfman, Diane Farquhar, Ravishankar Ramaswamy, Lindsay A. Dow

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Background: To build third-year medical students’ serious illness communication skills, we implemented a structured communication tool—the VALUES tool—focused on patients’ goals, values, and priorities and described students’ experiences using this tool. Methods: Medical students participated in a social worker-led VALUES didactic and discussion with a patient on the palliative care consult service and, subsequently, completed an anonymous survey about their comfort with the VALUES tool and its usefulness for learning (5-point Likert scales). Results: Of the 142 medical students who participated in the VALUES didactic, 37 completed the survey (26%). The VALUES tool was rated highly in terms of usefulness (mean 4.5; standard deviation [SD] 0.7) and rated lower in terms of overall comfort (mean 3.7; SD 0.7). Conclusion: Our project explored the integration of a VALUES tool into medical student education, and we show that the tool is well rated by learners in terms of comfort and usefulness.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)99-103
Number of pages5
JournalJournal of Palliative Medicine
Volume27
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jan 2024

Keywords

  • goal-concordant care
  • patients’ goals and values
  • serious illness communication
  • undergraduate medical education

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