GOComm: A team‐based communication intervention to improve clinicians’ skills and distress tolerance in family meetings

Abstract Background Medical training often omits systematic approaches to prognostication and goals of care (GOC) communication, leading to end‐of‐life (EOL) hospital care misaligned with patients’ values, lower clinician self‐efficacy, and greater clinician distress. Objective This communication training intervention aimed to improve clinician knowledge and self‐efficacy and to reduce distress in conducting GOC discussions. Methods We developed and implemented GOComm, a 4‐h serious illness communication training program across eight campuses of a large health system. Utilizing a train‐the‐trainer model, facilitators taught GOComm to inpatient clinicians, primarily hospitalists, intensivists, physician assistants (PAs), and trainees. Topics included prognosticating, conveying serious news, managing emotions, creating values‐informed medical recommendations, and discussing hospice. Simulations included a clinician and simulated patient (SP) role play and a family meeting, in which a clinical dyad encountered an SP dyad. Mixed methods evaluation included pre‐ and postsurveys. Results Three hundred and ninety‐three clinicians participated: 322 provided demographics, with a mean of 5.57 years in practice; 71.7% were women, 50% were White, and 29.5% were Asian. Of 315 listing roles: 41% were physicians, 41% were PAs. Two hundred and forty‐two completed both pre‐ and postsurveys. Clinicians had statistically significant gains in GOC knowledge, self‐efficacy, and distress tolerance. GOComm had high clinician acceptability: 96.2% indicated they would recommend GOComm to a colleague, and 83.2% credited it with changing how they will manage patients. Conclusions GOComm is an effective train‐the‐trainer curriculum for hospital‐based clinicians to gain knowledge and confidence in empathic communication skills. Clinician distress tolerance can be mitigated by enhancing skills training and social support through team simulations.