Industry Supported Session

Dinner Session: Breaking the News in ALS/MND

Thursday, June 8, 2023

7:00 PM – 8:30 PM MST

Location:H-M2: Cascade Ballroom

Audience:

Healthcare professionals who have to share a difficult diagnosis.

Learning Level:

Basic (Resident, New Information)

Learning Format:

Case studies, Demonstration, Discussion group/peer exchange/user groups, Forum/panels, Lecture/plenary method, Question and answer sessions, Small workshop/hands-on demonstration

CanMEDs Roles:

Medical Expert

Faculty(s)

Research has shown that the manner in which a diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/motor neuron disease (ALS/MND) is delivered is a source of discontent for many people living with the disease and their caregivers.

This is not surprising given that conveying sensitive news to patients is an arduous and emotionally challenging task for healthcare professionals (HCPs), which many feel ill prepared for given the lack of medical training curricula devoted to this area.

How to Break the News in ALS/MND: A Primer for Physicians and Allied Health Professionals has been designed to improve HCP comfort and confidence in this task by providing them with the skills required to deliver challenging news effectively. The program centers around the A–L S–PIKES protocol which uses well-established principles of communication and counselling that are aimed at improving patient quality of life and promoting the well-being of HCPs involved in the care and management of people living with ALS/MND.

This program was developed by the CNSF and Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Canada, Inc. and was planned to achieve scientific integrity, objectivity and balance. It is an unaccredited learning activity and not eligible for MOC credits.

Learning Objectives:

Describe the impact delivering news in ALS/MND can have on patients, caregivers and healthcare professionals
Identify and address personal biases and perspectives on ALS/MND, death and dying
Recognize and apply best practices in delivering news to people living with ALS and their caregivers
Respond to patient/caregiver distress when receiving the news
Apply the A-L S-PIKES technique in clinical practice to improve confide

Presentations:

7:00 PM – 7:10 PM MST

Introduction
Faculty: Cathy Cummings
7:10 PM – 7:30 PM MST

Experience sharing
Faculty: Angela Genge
7:30 PM – 7:50 PM MST

Protocol Discussion
Faculty: Melinda Kavanaugh
7:50 PM – 8:05 PM MST

Tips and useful tools
Faculty: Angela Genge
Faculty: Cathy Cummings
Faculty: Melinda Kavanaugh
8:05 PM – 8:20 PM MST

Audience Q and A
Faculty: Angela Genge
Faculty: Cathy Cummings
Faculty: Melinda Kavanaugh
8:20 PM – 8:30 PM MST

Evaluation & Wrap Up
Faculty: Angela Genge