Mastery Learning in Communication Skills for Anesthesiology Residents

This study is testing if a training method called "mastery learning in communication skills" can improve how anesthesiology residents communicate, reduce burnout, and improve their clinical skills. Participants will be anesthesiology residents at Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, between 20 and 60 years old. You cannot join if you have already taken a similar course. The study aims to see if this training improves skills in simulated situations and in real-world patient care. Researchers will compare those who receive mastery learning to those who receive standard training. The study plans to enroll 80 participants, but its current status is unclear.

Study design
This is a multi-institutional randomized controlled trial involving anesthesiology residents. Approximately 80 participants will be randomly assigned to receive either mastery training in communication skills or standard care.
What's involved
Not specified in the trial record.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Communication skills will be measured at one year after the intervention.

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NCT05979090

Mastery Learning in Communication Skills

Recruiting
NAAges 20–60Interventional
Heather Ballard
~80 participants
Updated 2026-07-10 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Mastery learning in communication skills

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Communication skills
Measured over one year
Communication Research
Communication, Personal
Burnout, Professional

NCT05979090

Where you'd take part

This study runs at 1 site. They're the same protocol — you choose where, and that choice sets who your contact draft is addressed to.

  • Northwestern University Simulation Center

    Chicago, Illinoisstudy coordinator listed

    Recruiting

Sites open and close at different times, so the status above is per site — it can differ from the study's overall status.

  • Heather Ballard, MD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Ann & Robert H Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Anesthesiology residents rotating at Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago

Exclusion

Participant refusal
Study participants who have already undergone the mastery learning in difficult conversations course.
  • Communication skillsone year

    Post test checklist skills scores, a 16-item checklist was developed using the modified Delphi technique with possible scores of 0 (lowest) to 16 (highest). All items in the checklist are graded dichotomously and (1 if done correctly and 0 if not done or done incorrectly.