Developing Patient-Centered Communication Skills Training for Oncologists: Describing the Content and Efficacy of Training

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.

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Cultivating Patient-Centered Communication Skills Training Across the Medical Education Continuum: A Model for Practice

North Carolina Medical Journal ◽

10.18043/ncm.68.5.356 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 68 (5) ◽

pp. 356-358

Author(s):

Gail S. Marion ◽

Sonia J. Crandall ◽

Frank Celestino ◽

William McCann ◽

Julienne Kirk

Keyword(s):

Medical Education ◽

Communication Skills ◽

Skills Training ◽

Communication Skills Training ◽

Patient Centered ◽

Medical Education Continuum

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Communication Skills Training: A Means to Promote Time-Efficient Patient-Centered Communication in Clinical Practice

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews ◽

10.17294/2330-0698.1782 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (4) ◽

pp. 307-314

Author(s):

Else Dalsgaard Iversen ◽

Maiken Wolderslund ◽

Poul-Erik Kofoed ◽

Pål Gulbrandsen ◽

Helle Poulsen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Clinical Practice ◽

Communication Skills ◽

Skills Training ◽

Communication Skills Training ◽

Patient Centered

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Teaching senior oncologists communication skills: results from phase I of a comprehensive longitudinal program in the United Kingdom.

Journal of Clinical Oncology ◽

10.1200/jco.1998.16.5.1961 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 16 (5) ◽

pp. 1961-1968 ◽

Cited By ~ 245

Author(s):

L Fallowfield ◽

M Lipkin ◽

A Hall

Keyword(s):

Communication Skills ◽

Skills Training ◽

Communication Skills Training ◽

Psychosocial Needs ◽

Patient Centered ◽

Training Time ◽

Course Content ◽

Junior Staff ◽

Key Aspects ◽

Teaching Programs

PURPOSE To determine the communication difficulties experienced by clinicians in cancer medicine and to develop, implement, and evaluate communication skills training courses. METHODS One hundred seventy-eight senior clinicians attended 1 1/2- or 3-day residential courses designed to enhance skills development, knowledge acquisition, and personal awareness. Course content included structured feedback, video review of interviews, interactive group demonstrations, and discussion in groups of four led by trained facilitators. The main outcomes were self-rated confidence in key aspects of communication, attitudinal shift toward more patient-centered interviewing, perceived changes in personal practice, and initiation of teaching programs for junior staff. RESULTS Less than 35% of the participants had received any previous communications training. Time, experience, and seniority had not improved skills; before the course, oncologists expressed difficulty with 998 different communication issues. Primary problems concerned giving complex information, obtaining informed consent, and handling ethnic and cultural differences. Confidence ratings for key communication areas were significantly improved postcourse (P < .01). Three months postcourse, 95% of the physicians reported significant changes in their practice of medicine. Seventy-five percent had started new teaching initiatives in communication for junior clinicians. Clinicians showed positive shifts in attitude toward patients' psychosocial needs (P=.0002) and were more patient centered (P=.03). The courses were highly rated and 97% would "definitely" recommend them to colleagues. CONCLUSION Oncologists are hampered by inadequate communication skills training and will give up time to correct this. Subjective improvements reported immediately postcourse were maintained at 3 months. Resources for educational initiatives are needed to help both patients and their physicians.

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Participative development and evaluation of a communication skills–training program for oncologists—patient perspectives on training content and teaching methods

Supportive Care in Cancer ◽

10.1007/s00520-021-06610-1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Nicole Ernstmann ◽

Hannah Nakata ◽

Lena Meurer ◽

Johanna Weiß ◽

Franziska Geiser ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cancer Patients ◽

Communication Skills ◽

Teaching Methods ◽

Skills Training ◽

Communication Skills Training ◽

Patient Centered ◽

Face To Face ◽

Telephone Interviews ◽

Qualitative Interview Study ◽

Predominantly Female

Abstract Background Using the 6-step approach to curriculum development for medical education, we developed a communication skills training (CST) curriculum for oncology and evaluated this curriculum from the perspective of cancer patients. Methods We conducted a qualitative interview study with cancer patients, collecting data using semi-structured face-to-face or telephone interviews with a short standardized survey. We fully transcribed the audiotaped interviews and conducted the content analysis using MAXQDA 2020. We analyzed the quantitative sociodemographic data descriptively. Results A total of 22 cancer patients participated, having a mean age of 60.6 (SD, 13.2) years and being predominantly female (55%). The patients believed that the CST curriculum addressed important aspects of patient-centered communication in cancer care. They emphasized the importance of physicians acquiring communication skills to establish a trusting relationship between doctor and patient, show empathy, inform patients, and involve them in treatment decisions. The patients had some doubts concerning the usefulness of strict protocols or checklists (e.g., they feared that protocol adherence might disturb the conversation flow). Discussion Although it was a challenge for some participants to take the perspective of a trainer and comment on the CST content and teaching methods, the patients provided a valuable perspective that can help overcome blind spots in CST concepts.

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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

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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

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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.

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