The Fundamentals of Communication in Surgery

"The UW study team will conduct two 2-hour train-the-trainer sessions with all surgical attendings who have committed to participation as a trainer in the FCS curriculum. The designated trainer will deliver each 2-hour session during the existing formal educational time for residents. If existing protected educational time will not allow for a 2-hour training session, the sessions can be delivered in two 1-hour sessions. These sessions will be incorporated into the curriculum similar to all other formal training provided to residents with the same expectations to attend.~Each 2-hour FCS session starts with a 30-minute exercise in empathic communication. The remaining 90 minutes are devoted to skills that support decision making about surgery."