Communication skills training in oncology. Description and preliminary outcomes of workshops on breaking bad news and managing patient reactions to illness.

TLDR

Cancer clinicians lack routine training in psychosocial aspects such as delivering bad news or managing unrealistic cure expectations, and further research is needed to assess long‑term benefits. The authors aimed to determine whether postgraduate workshops could effectively enhance interpersonal skills for managing stressful patient encounters. They conducted two half‑day workshops for oncology faculty that combined didactic sessions with small‑group role‑play and discussion facilitated by trained physicians, and evaluated them with pre‑ and post‑workshop satisfaction and self‑efficacy questionnaires. Participants reported high satisfaction, increased confidence in communicating bad news and managing problem situations, and many intended to apply the newly learned approaches.

Abstract

Cancer clinicians do not receive routine training in the psychosocial aspects of patient care such as how to communicate bad news or respond to patients who have unrealistic expectations of cure. Postgraduate workshops may be an effective way to increase interpersonal skills in managing these stressful patient encounters.The authors conducted 2 half-day workshops for oncology faculty, one on breaking bad news and one on dealing with "problem situations." Participants met in a large group for didactic presentations and then small groups in which they used role-play and discussion to problem-solve difficult cases from their practices. The small groups were assisted in their work by trained physician facilitators. The workshops were evaluated by means of a follow-up satisfaction questionnaire as well as a self-efficacy measure, which was administered before and after the workshops.Twenty-seven faculty and 2 oncology fellows participated in the training programs. Satisfaction questionnaires showed that the programs met the educational objectives and were considered to be useful and relevant by the participants. Self-efficacy questionnaires revealed an increase in confidence in communicating bad news and managing problem situation cases from before to after the workshop. The majority of attendees welcomed the opportunity to discuss their difficult cases with colleagues. A number resolved to implement newly learned approaches to common patient problems they encountered frequently.Communication skills workshops may be a useful modality to provide training to oncologists in stressful aspects of the physician-patient relationship. Further research is needed to assess whether long term benefits accrue to the participants.