Communication and Communication Skills Training in Oncology: Open Questions and Future Tasks

Evidence is growing that communication skills training can help clinicians to become more empathic and use open questions in a patient-centered manner. More work is needed to see these gains translate into improved patient outcomes. A core curriculum has matured as a conventional component of training in cancer care. Strong evidence supports the use of question prompt lists, decision aids, and audio recording of important consultations for later review by the patient and family. Gains are being made with communication challenges such as discussing internet-derived information. Patient training about optimizing their communication has started to complete the reciprocal interaction.

Download Full-text

Can Communication Skills Training Alter Physicians’ Beliefs and Behavior in Clinics?

Journal of Clinical Oncology ◽

10.1200/jco.2002.20.3.765 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 20 (3) ◽

pp. 765-769 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Valerie Jenkins ◽

Lesley Fallowfield

Keyword(s):

Communication Skills ◽

Processing System ◽

Skills Training ◽

Self Report ◽

Control Group ◽

Communication Skills Training ◽

Attitudes And Beliefs ◽

Communication Behaviors ◽

Open Questions ◽

Affective Components

PURPOSE: To measure the psychosocial attitudes and beliefs of physicians working within oncology in the United Kingdom and to examine whether beliefs alter after communication skills training. Additionally, to investigate whether physicians’ attitudes are reflected in communication behaviors with patients during interviews. METHODS: Ninety-three physicians completed a 32-item Physician Psychosocial Belief (PPSB) questionnaire at baseline (T1) before randomization to attendance at a 3-day residential communication skills course (n = 48) or a control group (n = 45). Three months later (T2), both groups completed another PPSB and a self-assessment questionnaire recording perceived changes in communication with patients. At both time points, physicians’ consultations with two consenting patients were videotaped. Communication behaviors were measured using the Medical Interaction Processing System. RESULTS: Physicians who attended the course showed significantly improved attitudes and beliefs toward psychosocial issues compared with controls (P = .002). This improvement was reflected in the analysis of the videotaped recordings of their communication behaviors with patients. Expressions of empathy were more likely for the course group at T2 than the controls (P = .02), as were open questions (P = .001), appropriate responses to patient cues (P = .005), and psychosocial probing (P = .041). These objective findings were supported by physicians’ self report of changes in communication style during interviews with patients. CONCLUSION: Our results show that a communication skills training intervention using behavioral, cognitive, and affective components not only increases potentially beneficial and more effective interviewing styles but can also alter attitudes and beliefs, thus increasing the likelihood that such skills will be used in the clinical setting.

Download Full-text

The Effects of Patient Communication Skills Training on Compliance

Archives of Family Medicine ◽

10.1001/archfami.9.1.57 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

pp. 57-64 ◽

Cited By ~ 127

Author(s):

D. J. Cegala

Keyword(s):

Communication Skills ◽

Skills Training ◽

Patient Communication ◽

Communication Skills Training ◽

Patient Communication Skills Training

Download Full-text

Critical Care Communication Skills Training for Internal Medicine Residents

MedEdPORTAL ◽

10.15766/mep_2374-8265.10212 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Laura Rock ◽

Nina Gadmer ◽

Robert Arnold ◽

David Roberts ◽

Asha Anandaiah ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Internal Medicine ◽

Critical Care ◽

Communication Skills ◽

Skills Training ◽

Communication Skills Training ◽

Internal Medicine Residents

Download Full-text

Effect of Communication Skills Training Program for Oncologists Based on Patient Preferences for Communication When Receiving Bad News: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Journal of Clinical Oncology ◽

10.1200/jco.2013.51.2756 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 32 (20) ◽

pp. 2166-2172 ◽

Cited By ~ 91

Author(s):

Maiko Fujimori ◽

Yuki Shirai ◽

Mariko Asai ◽

Kaoru Kubota ◽

Noriyuki Katsumata ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Communication Skills ◽

Patient Preferences ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Skills Training ◽

Control Group ◽

Communication Skills Training ◽

Communication Performance

Purpose The aim of this study was to identify the effects of a communication skills training (CST) program for oncologists, developed based on patient preferences regarding oncologists' communication. Participants and Methods Thirty oncologists were randomly assigned to either an intervention group (IG; 2-day CST workshop) or control group (CG). Participants were assessed on their communication performance during simulated consultation and their confidence in communicating with patients at baseline and follow-up. A total of 1,192 patients (response rate, 84.6%) who had consultations with the participating oncologists at baseline and/or follow-up were assessed regarding their distress using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, satisfaction with the consultation, and trust in their oncologist after the consultation. Results At the follow-up survey, the performance scores of the IG had improved significantly, in terms of their emotional support (P = .011), setting up a supportive environment (P = .002), and ability to deliver information (P = .001), compared with those of the CG. Oncologists in the IG were rated higher at follow-up than those in the CG in terms of their confidence in themselves (P = .001). Patients who met with oncologists after they had undergone the CST were significantly less depressed than those who met with oncologists in the CG (P = .027). However, the CST program did not affect patient satisfaction with oncologists' style of communication. Conclusion A CST program based on patient preferences is effective for both oncologists and patients with cancer. Oncologists should consider CST as an approach to enhancing their communication skills.

Download Full-text