Development, acceptability and feasibility of a communication skills training package for therapeutic radiographers to reduce fear of recurrence development in breast cancer patients (FORECAST2)

Previous work (FORECAST) has shown that concerns of breast cancer patients after finishing radiotherapy are responsive to conversations with radiographers during the treatment period. This study seeks to further understand radiographer and patient experiences, determine shared priorities for improvement in clinical interaction and develop communication guidelines and training to help radiographers support patients.Methods: Using the principles of Experience-Based Co-Design, semi-structured interviews were held with N = 4 patients (videoed) and N = 4 radiographers, followed by feedback events (N = 7) to validate findings. Patients and radiographers exchanged experiences in a joint co-design session, agreed with shared priorities and generated ideas for further support. A survey was conducted for process evaluation. To scale up findings, UK-wide representatives from patient networks (N = 8) and radiographers and managerial staff (N = 16) provided consultative input utilizing an iterative, adaptive procedure.Results: Radiographers expressed a need for support with “difficult conversations,” especially those on Fear of Cancer Recurrence, and their appropriate management. Important pointers for reassuring communication were identified, including: being treated like a person, knowing what to expect, and space to ask questions. The co-design process was rated positively by both staff and patients. Thematic collation of findings and mapping these on literature evidence resulted in the “KEW” communication guidelines for radiographers: Know (Confidence; Expectations; Person), Encourage (Emotions; Space; Follow-up), Warmth (Start; Normalize; Ending). National stakeholder consultations validated and helped fine-tune the training model. The resulting training package, included: trigger videos (n = 6), a simulated patient scenario and interactive handouts on fears of cancer recurrence and the patient pathway.Conclusions: The co-design process captured good practice to help standardize quality in empathic communication in the radiotherapy service. The resulting KEW: Know, Encourage, Warmth guidelines, and training package are user-centered as well as evidence-based. Supplementing single-site co-design with national consultative feedback allows for the development of interventions that are relevant to the clinical practice, even in detail, and helps to generate appropriate buy-in for roll out on a wider scale after evaluation.Trial Registration:www.ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT03468881

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Increasing Pain Related Communication Skills to Improve Pain Management in Metastatic Breast Cancer Patients

10.21236/ada391338 ◽

2000 ◽

Author(s):

Katherine DuHamel

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Metastatic Breast Cancer ◽

Pain Management ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Communication Skills ◽

Metastatic Breast ◽

Breast Cancer Patients

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Ambulatory care nurses responding to depression

10.1093/med/9780198736134.003.0029 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Anthony De La Cruz ◽

Richard F. Brown ◽

Steve Passik

Keyword(s):

Cancer Patients ◽

Communication Skills ◽

Healthcare Providers ◽

Skills Training ◽

Communication Skills Training ◽

Common Occurrence ◽

Treatment Of Depression ◽

Patient’S Experience ◽

Patients At Risk ◽

Risks Factors

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.

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Communication skills training for the radiotherapy team to manage cancer patients’ emotional concerns: a systematic review

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2018-025420 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (4) ◽

pp. e025420 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Mara Myrthe van Beusekom ◽

Josie Cameron ◽

Carolyn Bedi ◽

Elspeth Banks ◽

Gerald Humphris

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Mixed Methods ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Communication Skills ◽

Skills Training ◽

Well Being ◽

Repeated Measurements ◽

Communication Skills Training ◽

Patient Anxiety ◽

Positive Effect

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.

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Discussing the transition to palliative care: Evaluation of a brief communication skills training program for oncology clinicians

Palliative & Supportive Care ◽

10.1017/s1478951510000313 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 8 (4) ◽

pp. 441-447 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Michelle N. Grainger ◽

Sue Hegarty ◽

Penelope Schofield ◽

Vicki White ◽

Michael Jefford

Keyword(s):

Palliative Care ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Communication Skills ◽

Health Professionals ◽

Skills Training ◽

Simulated Patients ◽

Communication Skills Training ◽

Anti Cancer ◽

Practical Information ◽

Care Evaluation

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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