Mack Molly C, Claxton Rene N, Arnold Robert M, Maurer Scott H
Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
Division of Palliative Care & Ethics, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2025 Jul 21:e31912. doi: 10.1002/pbc.31912.
Peds OncoTalk is a novel curriculum for Pediatric Hematology/Oncology (PHO) fellows to learn key communication skills to deliver cancer care using validated principles. Interpersonal and communication skills are core competencies for Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)-accredited PHO fellowship.
A 3-day, virtual course emphasizing skill practice in small groups with simulated patients was created. Participants completed pre- and postsurveys to measure reported preparedness with skills on a 5-point Likert scale. The course teaches responding to emotion, delivering serious news, mapping values, and proposing a values-based plan. Didactic sessions were followed by simulated patient cases facilitated by Vital Talk Faculty. PHO-specific content: 1. New diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia; 2. Adolescent patient with relapsed osteosarcoma; 3. End-of-life care for child with progressive diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma.
Eighteen fellows from six ACGME-accredited institutions participated. Learners reported improved confidence in all measured skills: deliver serious news (pre 3.33, post 4.44, mean difference 1.11, p < 0.01); explore values to develop a treatment plan (pre 2.78, post 4.39, p < 0.01); and propose a values-concordant plan (pre 2.94, post 4.28, p < 0.01). Sixteen of 18 (89%) fellows stated agree to strongly agree when asked if the course should be required training. All fellows (100%) responded that content was relevant to training.
Formal, simulated communication training improves confidence in fundamental communication skills for PHO fellows. Fellows reported this training should be required. The virtual platform provides improved accessibility. These skills are critical to providing values-based care to a vulnerable population, and the course should be integrated into PHO training.
儿科肿瘤学交流课程（Peds OncoTalk）是一项面向儿科血液学/肿瘤学（PHO）研究员的全新课程，旨在让他们运用经过验证的原则学习提供癌症护理的关键沟通技巧。人际沟通技巧是研究生医学教育认证委员会（ACGME）认可的PHO研究员培训的核心能力。
创建了一个为期3天的虚拟课程，重点是在小组中与模拟患者进行技能练习。参与者完成了课前和课后调查，以5分制李克特量表衡量报告的技能准备情况。该课程教授如何应对情绪、传达严肃消息、梳理价值观以及提出基于价值观的计划。理论课程之后是由Vital Talk教员协助进行的模拟患者病例。PHO特定内容：1. 急性淋巴细胞白血病的新诊断；2. 复发性骨肉瘤的青少年患者；3. 进行性弥漫性脑桥胶质瘤患儿的临终关怀。
来自六个ACGME认可机构的18名研究员参加了课程。学习者报告称，他们在所有测量技能方面的信心都有所提高：传达严肃消息（课前3.33，课后4.44，平均差异1.11，p < 0.01）；探索价值观以制定治疗计划（课前2.78，课后4.39，p < 0.01）；提出符合价值观的计划（课前2.94，课后4.28，p < 0.01）。当被问及该课程是否应作为必修培训时，18名研究员中有16名（89%）表示同意至强烈同意。所有研究员（100%）都表示内容与培训相关。
正式的模拟沟通培训提高了PHO研究员对基本沟通技能的信心。研究员们报告称这种培训应该是必修的。虚拟平台提高了可及性。这些技能对于为弱势群体提供基于价值观的护理至关重要，该课程应纳入PHO培训。
