Effectiveness of communication skills training of nurses on the quality of life and satisfaction with healthcare professionals among newly diagnosed cancer patients: a preliminary study

2010 ◽  
Vol 20 (12) ◽  
pp. 1285-1291 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sakiko Fukui ◽  
Keiko Ogawa ◽  
Akemi Yamagishi
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Loïs Francesca van de Water ◽  
Héctor G. van den Boorn ◽  
Florian Hoxha ◽  
Inge Henselmans ◽  
Mart M. Calff ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND With the increasing use of shared decision making (SDM), esophagogastric cancer patients play a larger and more important role in the decision-making process. To be able to make well-informed decisions, patients need to be adequately informed about treatment options and their outcomes, namely survival, side effects or complications, and health related quality of life (HRQoL). Online tools and training programs can aid physicians in this complex task, however to date none of these are available for use in informing esophagogastric cancer patients about treatment outcomes. OBJECTIVE This study aims to develop and evaluate the feasibility of an online prediction tool and a supporting communication skills training to improve the manner in which physicians inform esophagogastric cancer patients on treatment outcomes. With improving the provision of treatment outcome information, we aim for information that is evidence-based, precise, and personalized to patient and tumor characteristics which is communicated in a way tailored to the individual information needs. METHODS An online prediction tool to be used during the consultation, named the Source tool, was designed using an iterative, user-centered approach. An accompanying communication skills training was developed based on specified learning objectives, literature and expert opinions. The Source tool was tested in several rounds: 1) a focus group (6 patients and survivors), 2) semi-structured patient interviews (5 patients), 3) think-aloud sessions (3 medical oncologists) and 4) expert interviews (6 field experts). In a final pilot study, the Source tool and training were tested as a combined intervention using 5 medical oncology fellows and 3 esophagogastric outpatients. RESULTS The Source tool contained personalized prediction models and data from meta-analyses concerning survival, treatment side effects/complications and quality of life. The treatment outcomes were visualized in a patient-friendly manner using pictographs, and bar and line graphs. The communication skills training consisted of a blended learning for clinicians comprised of an e-learning and two face-to-face sessions. Adjustments to improve both training and tool were made according to feedback from all testing rounds. CONCLUSIONS The Source tool and training could play an important role in informing esophagogastric patients in an evidence-based, precise, personalized and tailored manner about treatment outcomes. Preliminary evaluation results are promising and provide valuable input for further development and testing of both elements. However, patient’s remaining uncertainties and doctors’ old habits and variating trust in the prediction models might influence the effect of the tool and training on daily practice. To investigate the impact of the combined tool and training on information provision in the context of treatment decision-making, we are currently conducting a multicenter clinical trial (SOURCE, NCT04232735).


SAGE Open ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 215824401453708 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elnaz Farbod ◽  
Mohammad Ghamari ◽  
Mojtaba Amiri Majd

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johanna Sommer ◽  
Christopher Chung ◽  
Dagmar M. Haller ◽  
Sophie Pautex

Abstract Background: Patients suffering from advanced cancer often loose contact with their primary care physician (PCP) during oncologic treatment and palliative care is introduced very late.The aim of this pilot study was to test the feasibility and procedures for a randomized trial of an intervention to teach PCPs a palliative care approach and communication skills to improve advanced cancer patients’ quality of life. Methods: Observational pilot study in 5 steps. 1) Recruitment of PCPs. 2) Intervention: training on palliative care competencies and communication skills addressing end-of-life issues.3) Recruitment of advanced cancer patients by PCPs. 4) Patients follow-up by PCPs, and assessment of their quality of life by a research assistant 5) Feedback from PCPs using a semi-structured focus group and three individual interviews with qualitative deductive theme analysis.Results: 8 PCPs were trained. PCPs failed to recruit patients for fear of imposing additional loads on their patients. PCPs changed their approach of advanced cancer patients. They became more conscious of their role and responsibility during oncologic treatments and felt empowered to take a more active role picking up patient’s cues and addressing advance directives. They developed interprofessional collaborations for advance care planning. Overall, they discovered the role to help patients to make decisions for a better end-of-life.Conclusions: PCPs failed to recruit advanced cancer patients, but reported a change in paradigm about palliative care. They moved from a focus on helping patients to die better, to a new role helping patients to define the conditions for a better end-of-life.Trial registration : The ethics committee of the canton of Geneva approved the study (2018-00077 Pilot Study) in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki


2006 ◽  
Vol 93 (7) ◽  
pp. 571-577 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mechteld R.M. Visser ◽  
J. Jan B. van Lanschot ◽  
Jacobus van der Velden ◽  
Jaap J. Kloek ◽  
Dirk J. Gouma ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Anthony De La Cruz ◽  
Richard F. Brown ◽  
Steve Passik

Depression is a common occurrence among cancer patients; however, it goes undetected by healthcare providers in about 50% of cases. Ambulatory nurses are in a key position to identify and respond to a patient’s emotional distress and aid in the detection of patients at risk for or suffering from depression. Programmes in communication skills training have been shown to help nurses detect and respond to patient depression. A model of core communication components consisting of strategies, skills, and process tasks is presented. This model will enable nurses to gain an understanding of the patient’s experience and assist in the recognition and treatment of depression. The results of a pilot programme utilizing this model and skills will also be presented. An overview of the nature of depression and risks factors and barriers to the identification of depression is presented.


Author(s):  
Anne Finn ◽  
Emma King ◽  
Susie Wilkinson

This chapter describes the key challenges and rewards of the implementation and delivery of a programme of advanced communication skills training (ACST) for senior healthcare professionals working in cancer and palliative care in Northern Ireland (NI). It enables participants to reflect and critically appraise their own and others communication skills and to demonstrate the skills required to facilitate a structured patient-centred assessment/consultation using specific strategies to handle complex communication scenarios. Participants should also be able to tailor complex information to meet the needs of patients and carers. The course is based on an experiential, learner-centred approach, which is known to enhance effective person-centred communication and includes cognitive, behavioural, and affective components. A 2014 analysis of the programme recommends the two-day as opposed to the three-day model for ACST, as no disadvantages have been identified and this programme is better meeting the needs of the participants.


BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. e025420 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mara Myrthe van Beusekom ◽  
Josie Cameron ◽  
Carolyn Bedi ◽  
Elspeth Banks ◽  
Gerald Humphris

ObjectivesMany cancer patients experience high levels of anxiety and concern during radiotherapy, often with long-lasting effects on their well-being. This systematic review aims to describe and determine the effectiveness of communication skills training (CST) for the radiotherapy team (RT) to improve conversations in this setting and to support patients with emotional concerns.DesignSystematic review.InterventionsCST for RT members.Data sourcesOn 17 April 2018, databases Medline, Embase, Scopus and PsycNET were searched.Eligibility criteria, Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome(PICO)Quantitative and/or qualitative articles were included that evaluate the effect of a CST for RT members (vs no CST) on communication behaviours and patients’ emotional concerns.Data extraction and synthesisArticles were appraised using the mixed-methods appraisal tool, and a narrative synthesis was performed.ResultsOf the nine included articles, five were randomised controlled trials, three were mixed-methods and one used repeated measurements. Four of the five different CST programmes managed to increase emotional communicative behaviour from the RT, and all studies measuring patient communicative behaviour found an improvement in at least one of the hypothesised outcomes. Two studies examining patient anxiety and concerns found a positive effect of the CST, although one found a negative effect; two other studies without a positive effect on mood made use of both empathic CST and tools.ConclusionsThere are promising indications that CST can be successfully introduced to improve emotional conversations between RT members and patients. With the right support, the RT can play an important role to help patients cope with their emotional concerns. Future work is necessary to confirm initial promising results and to ensure the learnt communication skills are sustained.


2010 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 441-447 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle N. Grainger ◽  
Sue Hegarty ◽  
Penelope Schofield ◽  
Vicki White ◽  
Michael Jefford

AbstractObjective:Discussing the transition from active anti-cancer treatment to palliative care can be difficult for cancer patients and oncology health professionals (OHP). We developed a brief communication skills workshop to assist OHP with these conversations, and examined satisfaction with the workshop and perceived confidence regarding these discussions.Method:Interactive workshops were conducted by trained facilitators and included cognitive, behavioral, and experiential components. The major component of the workshop involved role-plays with trained actors (simulated patients). Participants completed an evaluation questionnaire.Results:Sixty-two OHP participated in workshops. Overall, participants were highly satisfied with the workshop content and format. All participants felt the workshop provided relevant practical information, and >80% thought that participation benefited their work. Over 98% said that the workshop had increased confidence in their communication skills.Significance of results:Participants were very satisfied with the workshop, and thought that participation increased confidence in communicating about the transition to palliative care. Dissemination of this model of communication skills training seems warranted.


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