A Mixed-Methods Evaluation of Clinician Education Modules on Reducing Surgical Opioid Prescribing.

BACKGROUND: In this study, we developed online interactive clinician education modules highlighting best practices to minimize opioid prescribing at discharge after surgery. The modules were implemented as part of a multicomponent quality improvement initiative across a six-hospital health system. This article describes the development and evaluation of this educational intervention. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Clinician education modules targeting surgical prescribers, nurses, and pharmacists were developed and implemented by an interdisciplinary team. Clinicians were invited to participate in an evaluation survey after completing the modules. Survey items assessed clinicians' rating of the module and intention to change clinical practice because of the module. Quantitative and qualitative survey responses were analyzed by the study team. RESULTS: A total of 2119 clinicians completed the module and 1831 of these clinicians (86.4%) completed the survey. Of clinicians completing the survey, 65.6% reported that they intend to change clinical practice after completing the module. Intended changes were related to increased knowledge and awareness, provider empowerment, opioid prescribing practices, nonopioid prescribing practices, and patient education. Many clinicians who indicated they do not intend to change practice reported that their clinical practices were already in line with module recommendations. Some clinicians did not perceive the module to be relevant to their role. CONCLUSIONS: Module completion was associated with the intention to improve clinical practice in areas related to provider empowerment, opioid prescribing, nonopioid prescribing, and patient education. Evaluation data will inform future module improvements. There is an opportunity to ensure that all clinicians, including those who are not prescribers, recognize their role in opioid stewardship.

Resident-Championed Quality Improvement Provides Value: Confronting Prolonged Mechanical Ventilation.

BACKGROUND: The Quality In-Training Initiative (QITI) provides hands-on quality improvement education for residents. As our institution has ranked in the bottom quartile for prolonged mechanical ventilation (PMV) according to the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP), we sought to illustrate how our resident-led QITI could be used to determine perioperative contributors to PMV. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Model for Improvement framework (developed by Associates in Process Improvement) was used to target postoperative ventilator management. However, baseline findings from our 2016 NSQIP data suggested that preoperative patient factors were more likely contributing to PMV. Subsequently, a retrospective one-to-one case-control study was developed, comparing preoperative NSQIP risk calculator profiles for PMV patients to case-matched patients for age, sex, procedure, and emergent case status. Chart review determined ventilator time, 30-d outcomes, and all-cause mortality. RESULTS: Forty-five patients with PMV (69% elective) had a median ventilator time of 134 h (interquartile range 87-254). The NSQIP calculator demonstrated increased preoperative risk percentages in PMV patients when compared to case-matched patients for any complication (includes PMV), predicted length of stay, and death (all P < 0.05). Thirty-day outcomes were worse for the PMV group in categories for sepsis, pneumonia, unplanned reoperation, 30-d mortality, rehab facility discharge, and length of stay (all P < 0.05). All-cause mortality was also significantly higher for PMV patients (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Resident-led QITI projects enhance resident education while exposing opportunities for improving care. Preoperative patient factors play a larger-than-anticipated role in PMV at our institution. Ongoing efforts are aimed toward preoperative identification and optimization of high-risk patients.

The digital patient journey solution for patients undergoing elective hip and knee arthroplasty: Protocol for a pragmatic randomized controlled trial.

AIM: To describe a randomized controlled trial (RCT) protocol that will evaluate the effectiveness of a digital patient journey (DPJ) solution in improving the outcomes of patients undergoing total hip and knee arthroplasty. BACKGROUND: There is an urgent need for novel technologies to ensure sustainability, improve patient experience, and empower patients in their own care by providing information, support, and control. DESIGN: A pragmatic RCT with two parallel arms. METHODS: The participants randomized assigned to the intervention arm (N = 33) will receive access to the DPJ solution. The participants in the control arm (N = 33) will receive conventional care, which is provided face to face by using paper-based methods. The group allocations will be blinded from the study nurse during the recruitment and baseline measures, as well as from the outcome assessors. Patients with total hip arthroplasty will be followed up for 8-12 weeks, whereas patients with total knee arthroplasty will be followed up for 6-8 weeks. The primary outcome is health-related quality of life, measured by the EuroQol EQ-5D-5L scale. Secondary outcomes include functional recovery, pain, patient experience, and self-efficacy. The first results are expected to be submitted for publication in 2020. IMPACT: This study will provide information on the health effects and cost benefits of using the DPJ solution to support a patient's preparation for surgery and postdischarge surgical care. If the DPJ solution is found to be effective, its implementation into clinical practice could lead to further improvements in patient outcomes. If the DPJ solution is found to be cost effective for the hospital, it could be used to improve hospital resource efficiency.

Evaluation of the Educational Needs of Organ Donors After Transplantation Surgery.

OBJECTIVE: This study involved individuals (donors) who underwent transplant surgery and evaluated their educational requirements for meeting self-care needs in the postdischarge period. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This descriptive study consisted of 73 donors who underwent surgery for organ donation in the Sisli Florence Nightingale Training and Research Hospital in Istanbul and who were intended to be discharged after the organ donation. Data were collected using the Donor Information Form and the Post-Organ Donation Educational Needs Survey, which were prepared by researchers based on literature. RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 38.86 ± 0.78 years. Of them, 54.8% were male, and 38.4% were high school graduates. All the donors (n = 73) received discharge education, and all the education was given by physicians and nurses. But, most donors (63%) stated that the discharge education was not adequate in meeting their needs. Participants received the lowest mean score (2.41 ± 1.27) on the item of "I feel calm and peaceful." The donors' mean total score on the survey was 137.81 ± 25.96 (minimum 76; maximum 170). CONCLUSION: The donors' educational needs for postdischarge self-care were high. It is necessary to determine the educational needs of donors to plan the discharge education for self-care management in home care.

A qualitative study of parental preferences for postcircumcision care education.

INTRODUCTIONR/BACKGROUND: Although uncommon, complications associated with newborn male circumcision may require costly and emotionally upsetting surgical revisions. Improvements in parental education regarding postcircumcision care may reduce preventable complications; however, little is known about parents' preferences for education of this type. OBJECTIVE: The authors sought to describe parents' preferences regarding the content and delivery of education on postcircumcision care as a first step toward improving parental education and ultimately reducing the need for surgical revisions. STUDY DESIGN: The authors conducted a qualitative, descriptive study, collecting data from 14 parents during two separate focus group discussions. The authors applied thematic analysis techniques to analyze the transcribed content of both groups. RESULTS: Parents indicated that postcircumcision care instructions should be detailed and include clear images and/or an actual demonstration of care processes. Despite being aware of the low likelihood of complications, parents expressed a preference for providers who took education seriously rather than those approaching it with a 'cavalier attitude.' There was widespread support for delivering education at a time that met each family's unique circumstances and needs. DISCUSSION: Consistent with prior research, parents in this study identified gaps in understanding postprocedure care instructions. However, this study adds to the literature in highlighting the specific concerns and preferences of parents with regard to the content and delivery of postcircumcision care education. Based on these findings, the authors conclude that healthcare teams should ensure that parents have access to detailed instructions for postcircumcision care. Education of parents should occur at times when they are able to pay attention and should be supplemented with materials that they can easily access from home. Pediatric urologists can play a leading role in the development and dissemination of high-quality, family-centered educational materials to both parents and providers in other specialty areas that perform high volumes of newborn circumcision. Future research would benefit from larger, more diverse samples. In addition, future studies investigating the effect of parental education on potentially avoidable complications are needed to maximize clinical impact. CONCLUSION: Parents readily provided detailed input into what they perceived as much-needed improvements in postcircumcision care education. Future research is needed to determine what effect, if any, such changes would have on the incidence of preventable complications, particularly those requiring surgical intervention.

Relação entre orientação em saúde e complicações no pós-operatório de cirurgias torácicas e abdominais altas / Correlation between the healthcare guidance and thoracic and upper abdominal post-operative care / Relación entre orientación en salud y complicaciones en el postoperatorio de cirugías torácicas y abdominales alta

Objetivo: avaliar a influência das orientações em saúde nas complicações no pós-operatório de cirurgias torácicas e abdominais altas. Método: estudo quantitativo transversal realizado com 266 indivíduos. Os dados foram coletados por um questionário sociodemográfico, clínico e assistencial. Foram incluídos sujeitos de ambos os sexos, com faixa etária de 18 a 80 anos, que estivessem na enfermaria em pós-operatório de cirurgias torácicas e ou abdominais altas. Resultados: 82 (30%) dos indivíduos receberam orientações no período de pós-operatório e 184 (70%) não receberam nenhum tipo de orientação. Quatro dos sujeitos que receberam orientações desenvolveram algum tipo de complicação e 16 dos que não receberam tiveram complicações; não apresentando resultados estatisticamente significativos quanto aos pesquisados que tiveram orientação e os que não tiveram orientações (p=0,4). Conclusão: em relação ao número de complicações, ao comparar os indivíduos que receberam orientações com os que não receberam não houve resultado estatisticamente significativo

Objective: to evaluate correlation between health guidelines and complications in the postoperative period after thoracic and upper abdominal surgeries. Method: a cross-sectional quantitative study with 266 individuals. Data were collected by a sociodemographic, clinical and care questionnaire. We included subjects of both sexes, with ages ranging from 18 to 80 years, who were in the postoperative ward after thoracic and/ or upper abdominal surgeries. Results: 82 (30%) of the subjects received guidance in the postoperative period and 184 (70%) received no guidance. Four of the subjects who received guidelines developed some type of complication while 16 of those who did not receive guidance developed complications; therefore, the results were not statistically significant (p=0,4). Conclusion: in relation to the number of complications, when comparing individuals who received guidelines with those who did not receive, there was no statistically significant result

Objetivo: evaluar la influencia de las orientaciones en salud en las complicaciones en el postoperatorio de cirugías torácicas y abdominales altas. Metodo: estudio cuantitativo transversal realizado con 266 individuos. Los datos fueron recolectados por un cuestionario sociodemográfico, clínico y asistencial. Se incluyeron sujetos de ambos sexos, con rango de edad de 18 a 80 años, que estuvieran en la enfermería en postoperatorio de cirugías torácicas y / o abdominales alta. Resultados: 82 (30%) de los individuos recibieron orientaciones en el período de postoperatorio y 184 (70%) no recibieron ningún tipo de orientación. Cuatro de los sujetos que recibieron orientaciones, desarrollaron algún tipo de complicación y 16 de los que no recibieron tuvieron complicaciones; no presentando resultados estadísticamente significativos en cuanto a los encuestados que tuvieron orientación y los que no tuvieron orientaciones (p=0,4). Conclusión: en relación al número de complicaciones, al comparar a los individuos que recibieron orientaciones con los que no recibieron no hubo resultado estadísticamente significativo

The Effect of Web-Based Preoperative and Postoperative Patient Care Education on Nursing Students: A Randomized Controlled Study.

This study examined the effect of Web-based preoperative and postoperative patient care education among undergraduate nursing students. This was an experimental, randomized controlled study. The study included 305 nursing students (experimental group: n = 155, control group: n = 150), who were assessed with the following instruments: the Preoperative and Postoperative Care Knowledge Test, Preoperative and Postoperative Care Skill Control List, Clinical Decision Making in Nursing Scale, and Nursing Student Clinical Performance Evaluation Scale. t Tests and χ tests were used to evaluate the data. There was no statistically significant difference between the students' posttest knowledge levels, clinical performance assessment, or clinical decision-making scores. The experimental group was found to perform the skills of "check patient's documents and prophylactic antibiotics when going to surgery" (χ = 4.88; P = .02), "controls the surgical safety checklist (before surgery) before going to surgery" (χ = 10.41; P = .00), and "observes surgical site/dressing (χ = 7.77; P = .00)" at a statistically significantly higher level. The education provided in the Web-based education was equivalent to that provided in traditional education. Thus, Web-based education appears to be a useful tool to educate student nurses in preoperative and postoperative patient care.

Development of an educational mobile application for patients submitted to orthognathic surgery. / Desenvolvimento de aplicativo de celular educativo para pacientes submetidos à cirurgia ortognática.

OBJECTIVE: to develop, evaluate and correlate the acceptability of an educational mobile application to patients submitted to orthognathic surgery. METHOD: methodological study based on systematic instructional design with contents aimed at patient learning through a mobile application. Usability and user satisfaction were evaluated by 30 patients in the perioperative stage through an electronic questionnaire sent by social networks, e-mail and business card, measured using the System Usability Scale instrument validated in Portuguese and user satisfaction with an instrument based on another study, after its applications. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics and Spearman correlation. RESULTS: the application named "OrtogApp" features content validated in a previous study included five learning content sessions essential for managing perioperative care, and it is available on IOS and Android platforms. Usability corresponded to 79.8 + 15.4 points and the satisfaction index was 82.9%; correlation of age, schooling and uses of the application with the instruments was not significant. CONCLUSION: OrtogApp is an educational application with content validated by professionals, resulting in high user satisfaction and good usability. Patients may use the application as supportive educational material to supplement guidance provided by perioperative nurses and/or surgeons during perioperative care.

The impact of recreational care activity in the immediate postoperative period / O impacto do cuidado lúdico no pós-operatório imediato / El impacto de la atención de recreo en el postoperatorio inmediato

Objective: The study's goal has been to understand the impact of playful educational actions performed by nurses in the immediate postoperative period, aiming to restore health promotion and maintenance strategies. Methods: It is an action-based research that was carried out in a municipal hospital in the Central region of Rio Grande do Sul State. The participants were hospitalized patients scheduled to undergo cholecystectomy procedure. This research was performed in three stages, as follows: the first one used a semi-structured questionnaire; the second, was the socialization of the recreational strategy developed by the researcher; and the third, sought to evaluate the effectiveness of the recreational activity. Data analysis was done by the content analysis under the thematic modality. Results: "Playfulness allied to therapeutic communication determining the confrontation of the perioperative process" and "Playfulness in the nursing consultation as a strategy toward the health education and self-care stimuli". Conclusion: The playful educational activities toward clients hospitalized for surgical procedure impact as a care methodology with innovative, active, and dialogic characteristics, then providing moments of demystification and understanding of the context that will be experienced in a creative and light way

Objetivo: Compreender o impacto de ações educativas lúdicas realizadas pelo enfermeiro no pós-operatório imediato, visando reconstruir estratégias de promoção e manutenção da saúde. Métodos: Trata-se de uma pesquisa-ação, realizada em um hospital municipal na região central, Rio Grande do Sul. Os participantes foram pacientes internados para realização de colecistectomia. Feita em três momentos, primeiro utilizou um questionário semiestruturado; segundo, a socialização da estratégia lúdica desenvolvida pelo pesquisador; terceiro, buscou avaliar a efetividade da ação educativa lúdica. Submetidos à análise de conteúdo, na modalidade temática. Resultados: "Ludicidade aliada à comunicação terapêutica determinando o enfrentamento do processo perioperatório" e "Ludicidade na consulta de Enfermagem como estratégia de educar para a saúde e estimular o autocuidado". Conclusão: As ações educativas lúdicas a clientes internados para a realização de procedimento cirúrgico impactam como uma metodologia de cuidado inovadora, ativa e dialógica, proporcionando momentos de desmistificação e compreensão do contexto que será vivenciado, de forma criativa e leve. Descritores: Educação em Saúde, Promoção da Saúde, Enfermagem, Ludicidade

Objetivo: Comprender el impacto de las actividades educativas recreativas llevadas a cabo por personal de enfermería en el postoperatorio inmediato, con el objetivo de reconstruir las estrategias de promoción y mantenimiento de la salud. Métodos: Se trata de una investigación en la acción llevada a cabo en un hospital municipal en la región central, RS. Los participantes fueron pacientes hospitalizados para la colecistectomía. Que tuvo lugar en tres etapas, que se utiliza por primera vez un cuestionario semi-estructurado, de acuerdo con la socialización de la estrategia de juego desarrollado por el investigador, en tercer lugar, tuvo como objetivo evaluar la eficacia de las actividades lúdicas educativas. Sometido a análisis de contenido, modalidad temática. Resultados: "Lo lúdico combinan con la comunicación terapéutica determinar la cara del proceso perioperatorio" y "Lo lúdico en consulta de Enfermería como una estrategia para educar a la salud y estimular el autocuidado." Conclusión: Las actividades lúdicas educativas a los clientes hospitalizados para llevar a cabo la cirugía de impacto como una metodología innovadora de atención, activa, y de diálogo, proporcionando momentos de desmitificación y la comprensión del contexto que se experimentará, forma creativa y la luz

Process of Care in Breast Reconstruction and the Impact of a Dual-Trained Surgeon.

BACKGROUND: For postmastectomy reconstruction, the most common model in the United States is a two-team approach, consisting of breast and plastic surgeon. In other countries, a single-surgeon approach trained in both plastic and oncologic surgery is well described. We hypothesized that a dual-trained breast and plastic surgeon would decrease the postoperative care burden for the patient without compromising outcomes and serve as a model for team-centered breast reconstruction care. METHODS: A retrospective review was performed of patients undergoing mastectomy with immediate expander reconstruction from January 2013 to October 2014. Patient data up to 1 year postoperatively was recorded. Patients were stratified by treatment to "single-surgeon" or "two-surgeon" team. Demographic and operative data were recorded. Google Maps was used to calculate travel distance. A standard of mean cost of travel per mile and mean hourly wage for San Diego County was used. The primary outcome was the total number of postoperative clinic visits. In addition, factors predictive of postoperative clinic visits were evaluated. RESULTS: During the study period, 147 patients were included in analysis (69, single-surgeon; 78, two-surgeon). The mean cost of travel per mile was US $59.2 cents and mean hourly wage for San Diego County was US $25.49. For the 1-year follow-up period, patients with the single surgeon had a mean (SD) of 9.3 (3.72) postoperative visits compared with 15.6 (3.96) for patients in the two-surgeon team (P < 0.0001).There were no statistical differences between groups in the rate of complications. In the final model, treatment team, bilateral mastectomies, and complications (operative and nonoperative) were significant predictors of the total number of postoperative visits. Patients in the two-surgeon team spent an additional 11.13 hours and 216 miles commuting and in clinic. In total, the additional 6.3 clinic visits for patients in the two-surgeon team resulted in an average of US $695.33 additional dollars spent on travel and lost wages. CONCLUSIONS: Single-surgeon patients required fewer postoperative visits. Fewer postoperative clinic visits may have significant socioeconomic and psychological benefits to patients. Given these results, we believe that streamlining care into an integrated multidisciplinary model would be beneficial.

Web App- and Text Message-Based Patient Education in Mohs Micrographic Surgery-A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Consent and wound care (WC) videos are used for education in Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS). Postoperative text messaging is poorly studied. OBJECTIVE: Develop and evaluate perioperative resources for MMS patients-video modules (DermPatientEd.com) and postoperative text messaging (DermTexts.com). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A study was conducted on 90 MMS patients. Patients were randomized 1:1:1:1 to videos with text messages, videos-only, text messages-only, or control. Primary outcomes included preoperative anxiety and knowledge of MMS and postoperative care. The secondary outcome included helpfulness/preference of interventions. RESULTS: Patients experienced a 19% reduction in anxiety as measured by a visual analog scale after the MMS video (p = .00062). There was no difference in knowledge after the WC video (p = .21498). Patients were more likely to report the WC video "very helpful" when compared with the pamphlet in understanding postoperative WC (p = .0016). Patients in text messaging groups were not more likely to report the service as "very helpful" when compared with the pamphlet (p = .3566), but preferred to receive WC instructions by text message for future visits (p = .0001). CONCLUSION: These resources proved helpful and effective in reducing preoperative anxiety. Patients prefer text message-based WC instructions over pamphlets after experiencing the service, but do not find them more helpful.

Quantifying the learning curve for pulmonary thromboendarterectomy.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary thromboendarterectomy (PTE) is an effective treatment for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH), but is a technically challenging operation for cardiothoracic surgeons. Starting a new program allows an opportunity to define a learning curve for PTE. METHODS: A retrospective case review was performed of 134 consecutive PTEs performed from 1998 to 2016 at a single institution. Outcomes were compared using either a two-tailed t-test for continuous variables or a chi-squared test for categorical variables according to experience of the program by terciles (T). RESULTS: The 30-day mortality was 3.7%. The mean length of hospital stay, length of ICU stay, and duration on a ventilator were 12.6 days, 4.6 days, and 2.0 days, respectively. The mean decrease in systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP) was 41.3 mmHg. Patients with Jamieson type 2 disease had a greater change in mean sPAP than those with type 3 disease (p = 0.039). The mean cardiopulmonary bypass time was 180 min (T1-198 min, T3-159 min, p = <0.001), and the mean circulatory arrest time was 37 min (T1-44 min, T3-31 min, p < 0.001). Plotting circulatory arrest times as a running sum compared to the mean demonstrated 2 inflection points, the first at 22 cases and the second at 95 cases. CONCLUSIONS: PTE is a challenging procedure to learn, and good outcomes are a result of a multi-disciplinary effort to optimize case selection, operative performance, and postoperative care. Approximately 20 cases are needed to become proficient in PTE, and nearly 100 cases are required for more efficient clearing of obstructed pulmonary arteries.

Examining the effects of enhanced provider-patient communication on postoperative tonsillectomy pain: protocol of a randomised controlled trial performed by nurses in daily clinical care.

INTRODUCTION: Placebo effects (true biopsychological effects not attributable to the active ingredients of medical technical interventions) can be attributed to several mechanisms, such as expectancy manipulation and empathy manipulation elicited by a provider's communication. So far, effects have primarily been shown in laboratory settings. The aim of this study is to determine the separate and combined effects of expectancy manipulation and empathy manipulation during preoperative and postoperative tonsillectomy analgesia care on clinical adult patients' outcomes. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Using a two-by-two randomised controlled trial, 128 adult tonsillectomy patients will be randomly assigned to one out of four conditions differing in the level of expectancy manipulation (standard vs enhanced) and empathy manipulation (standard vs enhanced). Day care ward nurses are trained to deliver the intervention, while patients are treated via the standard analgesia protocol and hospital routines. The primary outcome, perceived pain, is measured via hospital routine by a Numeric Rating Scale, and additional prehospitalisation, perihospitalisation and posthospitalisation questionnaires are completed (until day 3, ie, 2 days after the operation). The manipulation is checked using audio recordings of nurse-patient interactions. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Although communication is manipulated, the manipulations do not cross norms or values of acceptable behaviour. Standard medical care is provided. The ethical committee of the UMC Utrecht and the local OLVG hospital committee approved the study. Results will be published via (inter)national peer-reviewed journals and a lay publication. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NTR5994; Pre-results.

Education Before Kidney Transplantation.

CONTEXT: Poor knowledge about immunosuppressive (IS) medications remains a major problem for patients in the posttransplant setting. Therefore, more effective educational strategies in the pretransplant setting are being considered as a possible method to improve knowledge and readiness for the challenges of posttransplant care. However, the most effective/relevant content of a pretransplant educational program is yet to be determined. OBJECTIVE: To identify pretransplant education topics from the posttransplant patient perspective. DESIGN: A focus group meeting was conducted among 7 high-functioning, stable adult kidney transplant recipients recruited from the Saskatchewan Transplant Program. Demographic information including age, gender, occupation, background/ethnicity, and time since transplant were recorded. A moderator, assistant moderator, and research assistant facilitated the 90-minute focus group meeting using a predetermined semistructured interview guide. The session was audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Nvivo software was used to code the data and identify emerging themes exploring views of participants relating to the educational information required for pretransplant patients. RESULTS: Patients were satisfied with the education they had received. Ideas were classified into the following major themes-patient satisfaction, transplant waitlist, surgery, medications, posttransplant complications, lifestyle and monitoring, knowledge acquisition, illusion of control, and life changes posttransplant. Knowledge gaps were identified in all areas of the transplantation process and were not exclusive to IS medications. CONCLUSION: Misconceptions regarding transplantation were identified by a group of high-functioning, stable adult recipients who were satisfied with their clinical care. Future educational strategies should aim to address the entire transplantation process and not be limited to medications.

Developing a web-based resource for parents of young children undergoing day surgery.

Background The shift to day case surgery makes parents more responsible for managing their child's post-operative care after discharge from hospital.

Mock Pages Are a Valid Construct for Assessment of Clinical Decision Making and Interprofessional Communication.

IMPORTANCE: Answering pages from nurses about patients in need of immediate attention is one of the most difficult challenges a resident faces during their first days as a physician. A Mock Page program has been developed and adopted into a national surgical resident preparatory curriculum to prepare senior medical students for this important skill. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to assess standardized mock page cases as a valid construct to assess clinical decision making and interprofessional communication skills. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS: Mock page cases (n = 16) were administered to 213 senior medical students from 12 medical schools participating in a national surgical resident preparatory curriculum in 2013 and 2014. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Clinical decision making and interprofessional communication were measured by case-specific assessments evaluating these skills which have undergone rigorous standard-setting to determine pass/fail cut points. RESULTS: Students' performance improved in general for both communication and clinical decision making over the 4-week course. Cases have been identified that seem to be best suited for differentiating high- from low-performing students. Chest pain, pulmonary embolus, and mental status change cases posed the greatest difficulty for student learners. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Simulated mock pages demonstrate an innovative technique for training students in both effective interprofessional communication and management of common postoperative conditions they will encounter as new surgical interns.