Conducting family meetings in palliative care: Themes, techniques, and preliminary evaluation of a communication skills module

2009 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 171-179 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer A. Gueguen ◽  
Carma L. Bylund ◽  
Richard F. Brown ◽  
Tomer T. Levin ◽  
David W. Kissane
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Palliative Care ◽  
Communication Skills ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Skills Training ◽  
Communication Skills Training ◽  
Training Module ◽  
Family Meeting ◽  
Family Meetings

ABSTRACTObjective:To develop a communication skills training module for health care professionals about how to conduct a family meeting in palliative care and to evaluate the module in terms of participant self-efficacy and satisfaction.Methods:Forty multispecialty health care professionals from the New York metropolitan area attended a communication skills training module at a Comprehensive Cancer Center about how to conduct a family meeting in oncology. The modular content was based on the Comskil model and current literature in the field.Results:Based on a retrospective pre–post measure, participants reported a significant increase in self-efficacy about their ability to conduct a family meeting. Furthermore, at least 93% of participants expressed their satisfaction with various aspects of the module by agreeing or strongly agreeing with statements on the course evaluation form.Significance of results:Family meetings play a significant role in the palliative care setting, where family support for planning and continuing care is vital to optimize patient care. Although these meetings can be challenging, this communication skills module is effective in increasing the confidence of participants in conducting a family meeting.

Responding to patient anger: Development and evaluation of an oncology communication skills training module

2011 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 359-365 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip A. Bialer ◽  
David Kissane ◽  
Richard Brown ◽  
Tomer Levin ◽  
Carma Bylund
Keyword(s):  
Communication Skills ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Skills Training ◽  
Course Satisfaction ◽  
Communication Skills Training ◽  
Review Of The Literature ◽  
Training Module ◽  
Physician Relationship

AbstractObjective:The purpose of this study was to develop a communication skills training (CST) module for oncology healthcare professionals on how to more effectively respond to patient anger. We also sought to evaluate the module in terms of participant self-efficacy and satisfaction.Method:The development of this module was based on a systematic review of the literature and followed the Comskil model previously used for other doctor–patient CST. Using an anonymous 5-point Likert scale, participants rated their pre-post self-efficacy in responding to patient anger as well as their satisfaction with the course. Data were analyzed using a paired sample t test.Results:During the academic years 2006–2009, 275 oncology healthcare professionals participated in a CST that focused on responding to patient anger. Participants' confidence in responding to patient anger increased significantly (p < 0.001) after attending the workshop. They also agreed or strongly agreed to five out of six items assessing course satisfaction 92–97% of the time.Significance of results:We have developed a CST module on how to respond to patient anger, which is both effective and useful. Training healthcare professionals to respond more effectively to patient anger may have a positive impact on the patient–physician relationship.

scholarly journals Consult, Negotiate, and Involve: Evaluation of an Advanced Communication Skills Program for Health Care Professionals

2018 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 296-307 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane Coad ◽  
Joanna Smith ◽  
David Pontin ◽  
Faith Gibson
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Young People ◽  
Communication Skills ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Cancer Education ◽  
Care Delivery ◽  
Skills Training ◽  
Communication Skills Training ◽  
The Impact

Effective communication is central to children, young people, and their families’ experiences of health care. Most patient complaints in developed health care systems result from ineffective communication, including inadequate information provision, not feeling listened to, failure to value patients concerns, and patients not feeling involved in care decisions. Advanced communication skills training is now embedded within cancer care policy in the United Kingdom and now features prominently within cancer education in many countries. Here, we share findings from a research evaluation of an advanced communication skills training program dedicated to health professionals caring for children and young people with cancer. We evaluated participants’ (n = 59) perceptions of the program, impact on their skills, knowledge, competence, and confidence. An appreciative inquiry design was adopted; data included interviews, precourse-postcourse evaluations, e-mail blog survey, and 360-degree reflective work records. The framework approach underpinned data analysis and triangulation of data sets. Key findings highlighted good and poor practice in health professionals’ engagement with children, young people, and their families; the purpose of communicating effectively was not always consistent with collaborative working. Attending a program helped participants expand their knowledge of communication theories and strategies. Participants valued using simulated scenarios to develop their skills and were keen to use their new skills to enhance care delivery. Our emphasis within this evaluation, however, remained on what was communicated, when and how, rather than to what effect. The impact of programs such as these must now be evaluated in terms of patient benefit.

scholarly journals Addressing the quality of communication with older cancer patients with cognitive deficits: Development of a communication skills training module

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 419-424
Author(s):  
Beatriz Korc-Grodzicki ◽  
Yesne Alici ◽  
Christian Nelson ◽  
Koshy Alexander ◽  
Ruth Manna ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Communication Skills ◽  
Cognitive Deficits ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Communication Skill ◽  
Skills Training ◽  
Comprehensive Cancer Center ◽  
Communication Skills Training ◽  
Training Module

AbstractObjectiveEffective communication is an essential part of patient-centered care. The complexity of cancer care in older adults makes communication challenging, particularly when older patients have cognitive deficits and lose their autonomy. This paper describes the development, implementation, and evaluation of a communication skills training module for health care providers (HCPs) who work with older adults with cancer, with or at risk of developing cognitive deficits.MethodUsing a pre-post single arm study design, 99 HCPs from a comprehensive cancer center in North-East USA, who worked primarily with geriatric patients, participated in the study. Participants included Advance Practice Providers (including Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants; n = 24, 24.2%); nurses (n = 23, 23.2%), social workers (n = 14, 14.1%), physicians (n = 13, 13.1%), and “other” HCPs (including occupational therapists, physical therapists, and psychologists; n = 20, 20.2%). The HCPs participated in a one-day geriatric communication skills training program in groups of 12–15 over a 2-year period. Participants complete pre-post surveys on module evaluation and perception of self-efficacy as well as pre-post video-recorded Standardized Patient Assessment (SPA) to evaluate communication skill uptake.ResultsMost participants evaluated the module positively; over 90% indicated that they agreed or strongly agreed with five of the six module evaluation items. HCPs’ self-efficacy in communicating with cancer patients with cognitive deficits significantly increased from pre- to post-module training. There was a significant increase in the following communication skill use from pre- to post-training: checking patient preferences, declaring agenda, and inviting agenda.Significance of resultsResults demonstrated a successful implementation of the program as evidenced through favorable program evaluation, significant gains in self-efficacy, as well as significant improvement in several communication skills.

scholarly journals Responding empathically to patients: a communication skills training module to reduce lung cancer stigma

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Smita C Banerjee ◽  
Noshin Haque ◽  
Carma L Bylund ◽  
Megan J Shen ◽  
Maureen Rigney ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lung Cancer ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Communication Skills ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Skills Training ◽  
Pulmonary Medicine ◽  
Communication Skills Training ◽  
Training Module ◽  
Lung Cancer Patients ◽  
Empathic Communication

Abstract Most lung cancer patients report perceiving stigma surrounding their diagnosis, and routine clinical interactions with their health care providers (HCPs) are reported as a common source. The adverse effects of lung cancer stigma are associated with several adverse psychosocial and behavioral outcomes. One potential clinician-level intervention target is empathic communication because of its association with higher rates of patients’ satisfaction, treatment adherence, and lower levels of psychological distress. This study describes the conceptual model and evaluation of clinician-targeted empathic communication skills training to reduce lung cancer patients’ experience of stigma. The goal of the training module is to enhance clinician recognition and responsiveness to lung cancer patients’ empathic opportunities by communicating understanding, reducing stigma and distress, and providing support. Thirty multidisciplinary HCPs working in thoracic oncology, thoracic surgery, or pulmonary medicine participated in 2.25 hr of didactic and experiential training on responding empathically to patients with lung cancer. Overall, participants reported highly favorable evaluations of the training, with at least 90% of participants agreeing or strongly agreeing to 11 of the 12 items assessing clinical relevance, novelty, clarity, and facilitator effectiveness. Participants’ self-efficacy to communicate empathically with lung cancer patients increased significantly from pretraining to posttraining, t(29) = −4.58, p &lt; .001. The empathic communication skills training module was feasible and well received by thoracic and pulmonary medicine HCPs and demonstrated improvements in self-efficacy in empathic communication from pretraining to posttraining. The examination of patient outcomes is warranted.

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