Goals, Values, and Priorities of Hospitalized Patients: Using a Structured Communication Tool to Engage Medical Students in Serious Illness Communication.

Abstract

<b><i>Background:</i></b> To build third-year medical students' serious illness communication skills, we implemented a structured communication tool-the VALUES tool-focused on patients' goals, values, and priorities and described students' experiences using this tool. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Medical students participated in a social worker-led VALUES didactic and discussion with a patient on the palliative care consult service and, subsequently, completed an anonymous survey about their comfort with the VALUES tool and its usefulness for learning (5-point Likert scales). <b><i>Results:</i></b> Of the 142 medical students who participated in the VALUES didactic, 37 completed the survey (26%). The VALUES tool was rated highly in terms of usefulness (mean 4.5; standard deviation [SD] 0.7) and rated lower in terms of overall comfort (mean 3.7; SD 0.7). <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> Our project explored the integration of a VALUES tool into medical student education, and we show that the tool is well rated by learners in terms of comfort and usefulness.