Oncologist Communication Skills Training Program Effective for Both Oncologists and Patients
In a Japanese study reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Fujimori et al found that an oncologist communication skills training program based on patient preferences in receiving bad news was of benefit to both oncologists and patients.
Study Details
In the study, 30 oncologists were randomly assigned to participate or not in a 2-day communication skills training program workshop based on patient preferences regarding how bad news is communicated. The program consisted of a didactic lecture, role-play, and discussion aimed at encouraging oncologists to provide a supportive environment for the patient interaction, to be prepared to provide information that patients might wish to know, and to provide reassurance and to address patient emotions with empathic responses (SHARE model). Role-play included scenarios for diagnosis of advanced cancer, recurrence of cancer, and cessation of anticancer treatment.
Oncologists were assessed for communication performance during simulated consultation and for confidence in communicating with patients at baseline and follow-up. A total of 1,192 patients (response rate = 85%) who had consultations with the oncologists at baseline or follow-up were assessed for distress using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), satisfaction with the consultation, and trust in their oncologist after the consultation.
Improved Skills and Confidence
At the follow-up survey, the communication skills training group had significantly improved skills in expression of emotional support (P = .011), setting up a supportive environment (P = .002), and ability to deliver information (P = .001) compared with the control group, as well as rating themselves higher for confidence in communication (P = .001).
Patient Benefits
Patients who met with oncologists after they had undergone training were significantly less depressed (P = .027) and had a borderline significant reduction in total distress (P = .05) on HADS and rated their trust in their oncologist higher (P = .009) compared with patients who saw control group oncologists. There were no significant differences between groups with regard to anxiety on HADS or patient satisfaction with oncologist style of communication.
The investigators concluded, “A [communication skills training] program based on patient preferences is effective for both oncologists and patients with cancer. Oncologists should consider [communication skills training] as an approach to enhancing their communication skills.”
Yosuke Uchitomi, MD, PhD, of Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, is the corresponding author for the Journal of Clinical Oncology article.
The study was supported by the Third-Term Comprehensive 10-Year Strategy for Cancer Control and Research, Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, and Japan Society for the Promotion of Science.
The content in this post has not been reviewed by the American Society of Clinical Oncology, Inc. (ASCO®) and does not necessarily reflect the ideas and opinions of ASCO®.
