Aim Junior doctors are frequently required to discuss resuscitation status with patients. They generally lack experience, confidence and skill in having these conversations. However, there is currently no formal postgraduate education requirement to improve or develop in this area. The aim of this educational intervention was to improve junior doctors’ level of confidence and skill in having resuscitation status conversations with patients.

Method An educational intervention for 27 prevocational postgraduate second and third-year house officers at a tertiary hospital in Hamilton, New Zealand was conducted. A self-administered survey was completed preintervention and postintervention.

Results Four factors were assessed in the survey (level of confidence having conversations regarding resuscitation status, ability to prognosticate, content of conversations and perceived barriers to having conversations), with a statistically significant difference found with respect to level of confidence having conversations regarding resuscitation status (p=0.001).

Conclusion This study demonstrated that a short education session improves confidence in discussing resuscitation status. It has also identified the need for further postgraduate training in complex communication skills.