Provision of Parent Feedback via the Communication Assessment Tool: Does It Improve Resident Communication Skills?

OBJECTIVE: To determine the impact of a curriculum that included parent feedback, via the Communication Assessment Tool (CAT), on resident communication skills.

METHODS: In a prospective, controlled study, categorical pediatric residents in continuity clinic were divided into control and intervention groups based on clinic day. Parent feedback was obtained for all residents at the beginning and end of the year using the CAT, a validated survey to assess physician communication. Intervention residents participated in learning conferences that reviewed communication best practices and received parental feedback via individual and group CAT scores. Scores were dichotomized as 5 (excellent) versus 1 to 4 (less than excellent) and reported as percentage of items rated excellent. Curriculum impact was assessed by comparing score changes between groups. Residents' scores in both arms were combined to assess changes from the beginning of the year to the end. Statistical testing was performed using generalized linear mixed-effects models.

RESULTS: All residents (N = 68) participated. Intervention (n = 38) and control (n = 30) residents received at least 10 CATs at the beginning and end of the year. The percentage of parents rating all items as excellent increased by similar percentages in intervention and control groups (60.9%-73.8% vs 61.1%-69.8; P = .38). When scores of residents in both arms were combined, improvement was found from the beginning to the end of the year for all CAT items (P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS: A curriculum including parent feedback from CATs did not significantly impact communication skills. However, communication skills improved over the year in intervention and control groups, suggesting that communication training occurs in multiple settings.