Conversation Analysis Based Simulation (CABS): a method for improving communication skills training for healthcare practitioners

Background: Actors portraying simulated patients are widely used in communication skills training in healthcare, but debates persist over the authenticity of these interactions. However, healthcare professionals value simulation-based training because of the opportunity to think and react in real time, which alternatives cannot provide. Objective: To describe a method for the use of simulation which maximises authenticity by grounding training in real, observed, patterns of patient communication. Design: Naturally occurring care interactions were video recorded and analysed using conversation analysis (CA) to identify communication patterns. We focused on sites of recurring interactional trouble as areas for training, and identified more and less effective ways of dealing with these. We used the CA findings to train actors portraying simulated patients, based on the observed interactional patterns. Settings and Participants: Patients living with dementia and healthcare practitioners (HCPs) on two acute healthcare of the elderly wards in the English East Midlands. Outcome Measures: One month later HCPs reported using the skills learned in clinical practice. Masked-ratings of before and after simulated patient encounters confirmed these self-reports in relation to one key area of training. Results: The Conversation Analysis Based Simulation (CABS) method used in this setting showed positive results across a range of quantitative and qualitative outcome measures. What is significant for the transferability of the method is that qualitative feedback from trainees highlighted the ability of the method to not only illuminate their existing effective practices, but to understand why these were effective and be able to articulate them to others. Discussion/Conclusion: While the CABS method was piloted in the dementia care setting described here, it has potential applicability across healthcare settings where simulated consultations are used in communication skills training.