Developing Patient-Centered Communication Skills Training for Oncologists: Describing the Content and Efficacy of Training

Abstract

Communication Skills Training (CST) is a proven aid to help oncologists achieve high quality patient-centered communication. No research studies have provided clear guidelines for developing the content of CST. The aim of this work is to describe a method of developing such content and evaluation of effectiveness of CST training workshops (based on this method) in a real world medical education setting at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Using a set of seven sequenced steps, we have developed a curriculum for training oncology fellows in several communication challenges. Oncology fellows (n = 45) participated in CST workshops. A coding system was applied to each participant's consultation video-recordings pre and post training. Participants completed evaluations of their confidence and self efficacy in communication skill usage. The training increased the fellows' overall level of skill usage (t44= − 2.426, p<.05). All participants strongly agreed that they would use newly acquired skills, provide better care after training, and had also been prompted to critically evaluate their own communication skills. Further modules are planned; however, different methods of assessment may be more appropriate in the medical education setting.