Specific training program improves oncologists’ palliative care communication skills in a randomized controlled trial

This study found that developed concise communication skills training enabled doctors to meet better core challenges in consultations, focusing on the transition to palliative care.

Goelz et al (2011) Specific training program improves oncologists’ palliative care communication skills in a randomized controlled trial Journal of Clinical Oncology; published online before print 8 August 2011.

Read the abstract on the Journal of Clinical Oncology website (accessed 19/08/11)

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Efficacy of a Cancer Research UK communication skills training model for oncologists: a randomised controlled trial

Report on a randomised controlled trial which explored the impact of a 3-day training course for oncologists on improving key communication skills.

Fallowfield et al (2002) Efficacy of a Cancer Research UK communication skills training model for oncologists: a randomised controlled trial The Lancet; Vol 359: pp650-655

Download this report (accessed 11/05/11)

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Communication skills training for health care patients working with cancer patients, their families and/or carers

This Cochrane Systematic Review suggests there is some evidence to suggest labour-intensive communications skills training in cancer care can have a beneficial effect on behaviour change in professionals working with cancer patients. It is not clear if this is partly due to the enthusiasm and/or skill of the facilitators and/or participants.

Fellowes D, Wilkinson S, Moore P (2004) Communication skills training for health care patients working with cancer patients, their families and/or carers (Review) Cochrane database of systematic reviews

Read the abstract on the Cochrane Collaboration website (accessed 11/05/11)

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Communication training for health professionals who care for patients with cancer: a systematic review of training methods

A systematic review found the best results are to be expected from a training programme carried out over a longer period of time.

Learner-centred programmes using several methods combining a didactic component with practical rehearsal and constructive feedback from peers and skilled facilitators proved to be very effective. Small groups encouraged more intensive participation

S Gysels M, Richardson A, Higginson IJ. (2005) Communication training for health professionals who care for patients with cancer: a systematic review of training methods Support Care Cancer ;13 (6): pp356–366

Read the abstract on the SpringerLink website (accessed 11/05/11)

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Developing communication competency in the context of cancer: a critical interpretive analysis of provider training programs

A critical interpretive analysis of 47 studies from the Cochrane Review of the communications training literature. The analysis found that few studies matched the recommendations of experts in the communication research field. Some of the challenges in moving forward with cancer-related communication skills involve deciding what we want people to learn, providing learning across various experiences, identifying learning models, and finding alternate ways of motivating people to learn. Core competencies need to be articulated in order to determine the best approaches for communication skills training in cancer.

Butler L, Degner L, Baile W, Landry M. (2005) Developing communication competency in the context of cancer: a critical interpretive analysis of provider training programs. Psycho-Oncology;14:pp861–872.

Read the abstract on the Wiley website (accessed 11/05/11)

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Testing health care professionals’ communication skills: the usefulness of highly emotional standardized role-playing sessions with simulators.

A study that compared the impact of 3 emotionally different contexts, simulated role play sessions to determine the impact on communication skills.

Razavi D, Delvaux N, Marchal S, De Cock M, Farvacques C, Slachmuylder JL (2000) Testing health care professionals’ communication skills: the usefulness of highly emotional standardized role-playing sessions with simulators Psycho-Oncology;9: pp293–302

Read the abstract on the U.S. National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health website (accessed 11/05/11)

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Participants’ judgements of the European Donor Hospital Education Programme (EDHEP): an international comparison

Evaluation of the European Donor Hospital Education Programme (EDHEP), a one-day workshop, aimed at providing guidelines for breaking the news of the death of a relative and for raising the issue of organ donation with bereaved relatives. The study found that clinicians found it a valuable teaching programme that increases confidence in communicating with bereaved relatives about death and organ donation.

Van Dalen J, Blok GA, Morley MJ, Morton J, Haase-Kromwijk B, Sells RA, Johnson RW (1999) Participants’ judgements of the European Donor Hospital Education Programme (EDHEP): an international comparison Transplantation; Volume: 12, Issue: 3:pp182-187 (accessed 11/05/11)

Read the abstract on the Mendeley website (accessed 04/03/2011)

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Does training increase the use of more emotionally laden words by nurses when talking with cancer patients? A randomised study

A longitudinal and randomised study shows that health care professionals empathy may be improved by communication skills training workshop and that this improvement facilitates cancer patients expression of emotions.

Razavi D, Delvaux N, Marchal S,Durieux JF,Farvacques C, Dubus L, Hogenraad R (2002) Does training increase the use of more emotionally laden words by nurses when talking with cancer patients? A randomised study Br J Cancer; 87(1): pp1–7. Published online 2002 July 15.

Read the abstract on the PubMed Central website (accessed 11/05/11)

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What do we know about facilitating patient communication in the cancer care setting?

Review of empirical literature to determine the knowledge about cancer patient interventions to facilitate their communication with healthcare providers. The results of interventions have been inconsistent and it is not known which types of intervention are most useful for which patients and at which points in the disease trajectory and it is not known how to measure the outcomes

Parker P, Davison J, Tishelman C, Brundage M (2005) What do we know about facilitating patient communication in the cancer care setting?
Psycho-Oncology; 14: pp848-858

Download this article (accessed 11/05/11)

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The effect of communication skills training on patient outcomes in cancer care. A systematic review of the literature

Systematic review of the literature demonstrated that there is insufficient evidence that communication skills training influences patient satisfaction and patient stress outcomes.

Uitterhoevr RJ, Bensing JM, Grol RP, Demulder PH, Van Achterberg T. (2010) The effect of communication skills training on patient outcomes in cancer care. A systematic review of the literature. European Journal of Cancer; 19 (4): pp 442-457

Read the abstract on the Wiley website
(accessed 11/052011)