Third-year students in Ferris State University’s Michigan College of Optometry can better develop critical “soft skills” thanks to a Faculty and Staff Merit Grant from The Ferris Foundation.

Three cancer specialists developed the six-step SPIKES method of addressing complex and potentially distressing medical information with patients. MCO Professor Dr. Sarah Hinkley said she and fellow faculty member and Emily Aslakson, an associate professor, discussed using the program.

“There are certainly diagnoses and other situations that arise where sensitive discussions are necessary to inform patients of their condition and possible outcomes,” Hinkley said. “We felt there was value in intentionally exploring how best to break the bad news to patients. A pilot program was offered to third-year students in the Spring 2023 semester.”

Michigan College of Optometry faculty members Emily Aslaskon (left) and Sarah Hinkley (right) collaborated on a “Breaking Bad News” workshop for third-year MCO students, which received formative funding support through a Merit Grant from The Ferris Foundation.

 

Hinkley said they arranged for patient actors and offered these encounters in an appropriate setting to respectfully present medical findings and show empathy for the patient in a deliberate, careful conversation.

“The actors we brought in for our pilot session ranged from teenagers to senior citizens. They contributed greatly to the learning experience for our students,” Hinkley said. “We saw great engagement by those involved and some emotional reaction to these encounters.”

The Ferris Foundation grant provides the resources to establish an expanded Breaking Bad News workshop for third-year MCO students with one-on-one experiences with an actor rather than in pairs.

“Empathy is an important component of an optometrist’s best practices,” Hinkley said. “We are glad to establish the workshop as an official offering, thanks to this grant award.”

For more information about the Faculty and Staff Merit Grant Program, visit The Ferris Foundation’s website.