scholarly journals Informing esophagogastric cancer patients about treatment outcomes: development of an online tool and training for physicians (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Loïs Francesca van de Water ◽  
Héctor G. van den Boorn ◽  
Florian Hoxha ◽  
Inge Henselmans ◽  
Mart M. Calff ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Treatment Outcomes ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Communication Skills ◽  
Prediction Models ◽  
Skills Training ◽  
Communication Skills Training ◽  
Esophagogastric Cancer ◽  
And Training

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).

Ambulatory care nurses responding to depression

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.

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

BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. e025420 ◽  
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.

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

2010 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 441-447 ◽  
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.

Factors that influence cancer patients' and relatives' anxiety following a three-person medical consultation: impact of a communication skills training program for physicians

2008 ◽  
Vol 17 (5) ◽  
pp. 488-496 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aurore Lienard ◽  
Isabelle Merckaert ◽  
Yves Libert ◽  
Nicole Delvaux ◽  
Serge Marchal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Training Program ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Communication Skills ◽  
Skills Training ◽  
Medical Consultation ◽  
Communication Skills Training

scholarly journals Factors influencing physicians' detection of cancer patients' and relatives' distress: can a communication skills training program improve physicians' detection?

2008 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 260-269 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isabelle Merckaert ◽  
Yves Libert ◽  
Nicole Delvaux ◽  
Serge Marchal ◽  
Jacques Boniver ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Training Program ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Communication Skills ◽  
Skills Training ◽  
Communication Skills Training ◽  
Factors Influencing

scholarly journals Informing esophagogastric cancer patients about treatment outcomes: development and evaluation study of a web-based tool and training (Preprint)

10.2196/27824 ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Loïs Francesca van de Water ◽  
Héctor G. van den Boorn ◽  
Florian Hoxha ◽  
Inge Henselmans ◽  
Mart M. Calff ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Treatment Outcomes ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Evaluation Study ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Esophagogastric Cancer ◽  
And Training

Geriatric communication skills training: Shared decision making and care planning for the older cancer patient and the caregiver.

2018 ◽  
Vol 36 (7_suppl) ◽  
pp. 80-80 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruth Manna ◽  
Smita C. Banerjee ◽  
Megan Johnson Shen ◽  
Beatriz Korc-Grodzicki ◽  
Yesne Alici ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Shared Decision Making ◽  
Communication Skills ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Skills Training ◽  
Medical Decision ◽  
Comprehensive Cancer Center ◽  
Communication Skills Training ◽  
Shared Decision

80 Background: Medical decision-making is the process of shared understanding of a patient’s personal values and subsequent negotiation to reach a treatment decision. Discussing options and engaging patients in decision-making remains a challenge for many clinicians. The challenge is greater when treating older patients, who may be cognitively impaired, and may have family members or caregivers playing significant roles in their care. The geriatric communication skills training (CST) guides clinicians in effectively communicating with older cancer patients and their caregivers around pivotal cancer care decisions. Methods: A multidisciplinary team from a Comprehensive Cancer Center collaborated on the development of a one-day training program, consisting of three geriatric specific CST modules: Geriatrics 101, Cognitive Syndromes and Shared Decision Making. Each module included a brief didactic (30 min) with exemplary videos, followed by experiential role play (90 min) with standardized patients (SP), co-led by multi-disciplinary facilitators. These sessions were video recorded to enable reflective learning, group discussion, and feedback. We examined preliminary efficacy of the intervention on multiple outcomes, including participant course evaluations, self-efficacy and coded SP assessments. Results: 28 clinicians, including mental health professionals, oncologists, family practitioners, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and social workers participated in the training. All participants reported strong satisfaction results with the workshop. Self-efficacy ratings increased significantly across all three modules, t(21) = -4.58, p < .001 between pre-training (M = 3.39, SD = .66) and post-training (M = 4.13, SD = .59). In SP assessments, participants also demonstrated significant uptake of agenda setting skills and increased responsiveness to caregiver concerns from pre to post training. Conclusions: The geriatric CST program was well received and demonstrated improvements in knowledge. Interdisciplinary training groups present for excellent case discussion and modeling opportunities for a variety of communication challenges.

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