Table 1.

Interview Guide for Focus Groups

Opening	1. Tell us your first name and how long you have worked as a physician assistant.
Introductory	2. Can you describe a time recently that you had to perform a difficult communication task with a patient with terminal illness or their family that stood out to you?
	3. Can you tell me what this was like?
	Prompt: Examples are: breaking bad news, determining code status, discussing prognosis, discussing risks/benefits of treatment near end of life, “trial of ICU care”
Transition	4. What challenges have you faced communicating with patients and families of patients with terminal illness that you wish you had been better prepared for?
	Prompt: Are there system barriers, patient and family barriers, things that are difficult for you personally?
	Prompt: Are there others who should play a role in this communication instead of or in addition to clinicians like you?
	5. Can you describe an instance when a difficult communication task went well?
Key question	6. What in your career or training helped you prepare for these challenges?
	Prompt: Do you feel your training was adequate?
Key question	7. What kinds of help could you have used to better prepare you for these challenges?
Ending	8. We are trying to design a training session to best serve you. What other suggestions do you have, or what other things would you like to be included in your training?