["Truth at the bedside"]. / "Wahrheit am Krankenbett"

BACKGROUND AND RESEARCH QUESTION: Discussions with seriously ill patients are part of physicians' tasks. These discussions are very demanding with respect to communication skills. In this paper we present the concept of an obligatory postgraduate course for physicians on breaking bad news and the results of the course evaluation. RESEARCH PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS: Physicians of 4 German hospitals in which the module was offered as an obligatory inhouse course. An interventional study without control group was carried out in which a questionnaire (closed-ended questions and Likert scales as well as open-ended questions) was distributed before and immediately after the course. RESULTS: 186 physicians (response rate: 88.6 %) participated in the study. 102 respondents (54.8 %) had broken bad news more than five times per month. 75 physicians (40.3 %) indicated that they had never participated in a teaching module on this topic prior to the course. Discussions about the end of life and disclosure about recurrence of the disease were rated most frequently as very difficult communication situations. Compared with the beginning of the course the respondents rated their communication skills significantly better at the end of the course. The course's relevance for clinical practice, teaching methods and the organisation of the course were rated positively. CONCLUSION: The feedback of the participants indicates the practical relevance of professional training on difficult communication situations such as breaking bad news. The improved rating of communication skills may be interpreted as a positive effect of the course. In our view, observational studies as well as interprofessional teaching modules contribute to improved professional communication with patients about diagnosis, prognosis and treatment options.

[Simulation-based anaesthesia crisis resource management training. Results of a survey on learning success]. / Simulationsbasiertes "Anaesthesia-Crisis-Resource-Management-Training". Ergebnisse einer Nachbefragung zum Lernerfolg.

BACKGROUND: Up to as many as 38,000 people die in German hospitals each year as a result of preventable medical errors. Anesthetic procedures are generally safer than internal medical procedures and the mortality associated with anesthesia is estimated to be 3.3-5 cases per million. However, this is still 10 times higher than the risk associated with civilian aviation for example. Up to 80% of mistakes are attributable to inadequate execution of non-technical skills (NTS) such as communication, teamwork and organization of the working environment. Training in non-technical skills through Anesthesia Crisis Resource Management (ACRM) is an integral part of the Berlin Simulation Training (BeST) curriculum. The aim of this study was to describe the subjective evaluation of change in routine clinical behavior as a result of simulator training using latent outcome variables such as "subjective evaluation of learning outcome", with special emphasis on communication. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In total 235 doctors with varying levels of professional experience received BeST training between 2001 and 2004. An anonymous postal questionnaire was sent to 228 of these participants and the response rate was 64% The questionnaire contained 13 questions covering evaluation of the workshop and learning outcome with respect to communication in the operating room (OR), teamwork in the OR and medical knowledge. Following factor analysis 3 latent outcome variables (subjective evaluation of the learning outcome, workshop-related change in perception of the value of communication and general value and relevance) were generated. Logistic regression was used to determine whether there was any relationship between the latent outcome variables and a number of independent factors. RESULTS: It was not possible to demonstrate any relationship between the level of professional training, age or date of the workshop and the variables selected to describe subjective evaluation of behavioral change as a result of the workshop. How realistic the candidates perceived the training scenarios to be (p<0.01) and the sex of the candidates (p=0.03) were both significantly related to evaluation and female candidates were more likely to positively evaluate the simulator training. From the candidates' perspective the training significantly altered their perception of the value of NTSs, and in particular communication, during the management of critical incidents in the OR. CONCLUSION: Well-staged and realistic simulation is associated with better learning outcomes. It may be important to take gender aspects into account in ACRM training.

[Integration of simulated patients into the study of human medicine in Germany]. / Einbindung von Simulationspatienten in das Studium der Humanmedizin in Deutschland.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Simulated patients (SPs) internationally teach and assess medical students. SPs are healthy lay people who portray the role of a patient, including symptoms and personality. In Germany the first SP programs were introduced in between 1998 and 2000. This study describes the implementation of SP programs at German medical schools. METHODS: In 2004 we used two separate questionnaires to collect data on the existence, time of implementation and planning of an SP program, number of SPs used, organisational structure, teaching and assessment with SPs, timing of the use of SPs within the curriculum, feedback during teaching sessions and quality management tools for such SP programs. RESULTS: 30 out of 36 medical schools were included in the study (83%). The majority of medical schools used SPs for training in communication skills and also for the assessment of competence. Because of the newness of SP programs in Germany, compared with such programs in Anglo-American countries, SP programs have only rarely been used in Germany in postgraduate training and continuing medical education. Compared to other countries German medical schools have spent few resources on the professional training of SPs and rarely use SP trainers to run these-programs. CONCLUSION: For quality assurance medical schools have to support SP-programs adequately. SP trainers should be introduced into German SP programs to release medical doctors from SP training and organisational tasks. Networking, as carried out internationally, should be introduced to foster collaborative research and effectively use limited resources.

Risk and predictors of early epileptic seizures in acute cerebral venous and sinus thrombosis.

We assessed the risk and determined predictors of early epileptic seizures (ES) in patients with acute cerebral venous and sinus thrombosis (CVST). A prospective series of 194 consecutive patients with acute CVST admitted to neurological wards in two German university hospitals was analysed for frequency of ES and in-hospital mortality. Demographic, clinical and radiological characteristics during the acute stage were retrospectively analysed for significant association with ES in univariate and multivariate analyses. During the acute stage, 19 patients (9.8%) died. Early symptomatic seizures were found in 86 patients (44.3%). Status epilepticus occurred in 11 patients (12.8%) of whom four died. Amongst patients with epileptic seizures, mortality was three times higher in those with status than in those without (36.4% and 12%, respectively). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, motor deficit [odds ratio (OR) 5.8; 95% CI 2.98-11.42; P < 0.001], intracranial haemorrhage (OR 2.8; 95% CI 1.46-5.56; P = 0.002) and cortical vein thrombosis (OR 2.9; 95% CI 1.43-5.96; P = 0.003) were independent predictors of early epileptic seizures. Status epilepticus was an important source of morbidity and early mortality in patients with CVST in this study. Patients with focal motor deficits, cortical vein thrombosis and intracranial haemorrhage carried the highest risk for ES. Prophylactic antiepileptic treatment may be an option for these patients.

Risk of recurrence of cerebral venous and sinus thrombosis during subsequent pregnancy and puerperium.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the risk of recurrence of cerebral venous and sinus thrombosis (CVST) during subsequent pregnancy and puerperium in women with previous cerebral venous occlusive disease. METHODS: The authors retrospectively studied the relapse rate of CVST and the incidence of extracerebral venous thrombosis during subsequent pregnancies in 39 women (from 125 patients with CVST) who suffered a CVST at childbearing age. RESULTS: Mean follow up was 10.25 years (range 1 to 20). Twenty two pregnancies and 19 births were observed in 14 women without evidence of either recurrence of CVST or extracerebral venous thrombosis. One pregnancy occurred during oral anticoagulation and was interrupted and two pregnancies ended with spontaneous abortions. Low dose heparin had been given during five pregnancies. CONCLUSIONS: The risk of recurrence for CVST during pregnancy seems to be low and these data do not justify a negative advice on pregnancy in women with previous CVST. Further studies are needed to evaluate the need for a prophylactic anticoagulation during pregnancy and puerperium.