Training activity information
Details
Discuss results of adapted protocol for ischaemia/coronary artery disease with patient/other healthcare professionals
Type
Developmental training activity (DTA)
Evidence requirements
Evidence the activity has been undertaken by the trainee​.
Reflection on the activity at one or more time points after the event including learning from the activity and/or areas of the trainees practice for development.
An action plan to implement learning and/or to address skills or knowledge gaps identified.
Reflective practice guidance
The guidance below is provided to support reflection at different time points, providing you with questions to aid you to reflect for this training activity. They are provided for guidance and should not be considered as a mandatory checklist. Trainees should not be expected to provide answers to each of the guidance questions listed.
Before action
- Before this activity, what are the key echocardiographic findings suggestive of ischaemia or coronary artery disease?
- How will you explain these findings to a patient, including the potential need for further investigations or treatments like coronary angiography?
- What information would be essential to communicate to a referring physician or cardiologist regarding a patient with suspected ischaemia/coronary artery disease based on the echo?
- How will you manage patient anxiety related to these findings?
In action
- How are you structuring the discussion? What key echocardiographic findings related to ischaemia or coronary artery disease (e.g., regional wall motion abnormalities, reduced global function) are you highlighting? How are you explaining the potential implications of these findings? Who is your audience, and how is that shaping your communication? Are you adjusting your explanation based on the listener’s level of understanding and the questions they pose? Are you deciding how to explain the link between wall motion abnormalities and potential coronary artery blockages? Are you comfortable discussing the echocardiographic signs of ischaemia? Are you consciously using appropriate terminology when speaking with a healthcare professional versus a patient?
- Do you feel you are effectively communicating the echocardiographic evidence of potential ischaemia? Are the questions being asked relevant to the information you have provided? What can you learn from this activity as it unfolds? Are you observing effective ways to explain the significance of regional wall motion abnormalities? Are you learning how to address concerns related to potential coronary artery disease? Are you drawing upon your understanding of ischaemia, coronary artery disease, echocardiographic findings, and your communication skills?
- Could you use diagrams of the heart and coronary arteries to aid your explanation? Are there different ways to explain the concept of reduced blood flow to a part of the heart muscle? If questions arise about specific treatment options (e.g., angiography, stenting) that are beyond your current expertise, would you seek guidance? Are the explanations and discussions you are having appropriate for your level of training, or are you venturing into areas that require more senior expertise, such as directly recommending specific interventional procedures?
On action
- Summarise the key echocardiographic findings related to ischaemia/coronary artery disease from the adapted protocol. Describe how you communicated these results to the patient and/or other healthcare professionals. Note their reactions and any questions they had.
- Reflect on your ability to explain echocardiographic findings related to ischaemia/coronary artery disease to different audiences. Were you able to tailor your explanation appropriately? Were there any challenges in conveying the clinical significance of the findings? How does this relate to explaining imaging results?
- Identify any areas where you can improve your communication skills when discussing ischaemia/coronary artery disease findings. How will you ensure you provide clear and relevant information to both patients and healthcare professionals in the future?
Beyond action
- Have you discussed echo findings related to ischaemia with patients and colleagues (e.g., cardiologists, referring physicians) in different clinical scenarios? Have you tailored your explanations to the level of expertise of your audience?
- How has your ability to explain the implications of echocardiographic findings in ischaemia and coronary artery disease to both patients and other healthcare professionals improved? Are you more confident in discussing the correlation between echo findings and other diagnostic modalities, such as ECG and angiography?
- How will your communication skills in this area support your role in multidisciplinary discussions regarding the management of patients with coronary artery disease? What did you learn about effectively conveying the significance of regional wall motion abnormalities or other ischaemic markers on echo?
Relevant learning outcomes
| # | Outcome |
|---|---|
| # 2 |
Outcome
Explain imaging results to patients and other health care professionals. |
| # 3 |
Outcome
Distinguish and justify actions based on clinical and ECG findings. |
| # 5 |
Outcome
Appraise new guidelines and evidence to inform practice. |
| # 6 |
Outcome
Demonstrate safe practice in line with local, national and international guidelines and standards. |
| # 7 |
Outcome
Assess and evaluate a patient’s clinical presentation and make recommendations for cardiac imaging. |
| # 8 |
Outcome
Evaluate cardiac care pathways. |
| # 9 |
Outcome
Summarise complex information into a concise and logical reports for specialist and non-specialist audiences. |