Trial of Simulation-based Mastery Learning to Communicate Diagnostic Uncertainty

Simulation-based Mastery Learning to Improve Communication in Times of Diagnostic Uncertainty: Randomized Control Trial

The goal of this study is to teach emergency medicine resident physicians to communicate more effectively with patients at the time of emergency department discharge in the setting of diagnostic uncertainty (i.e. no definitive cause identified for the patient's symptoms). All residents will complete baseline and follow up assessments by completing in-person simulated patient discharged. After the baseline assessment, they will complete an online educational curriculum that has been developed by the study team, and will participate in video-based simulation deliberate practice (DP) and feedback sessions using a simulation-based mastery learning (SBML) approach. They will be assessed with the Uncertainty Communication Checklist (UCC), a tool already developed by the study team, that has a minimum passing standard (MPS) that was established through engagement of both patients and physicians. The investigators will perform a 2-arm wait-list randomized control trial with resident physicians to test the efficacy of the SBML curriculum in training residents to have a discharge discussion with patients discharged from the emergency department with diagnostic uncertainty.

Inclusion Criteria:

-Eligible participants include all emergency medicine residents at Thomas Jefferson University and Northwestern University.

Exclusion Criteria:

-None