Specific Training Program Improves Oncologists' Palliative Care Communication Skills in a Randomized Controlled Trial (original) (raw)

2011, Journal of Clinical Oncology

Purpose The aim of the study was to demonstrate that COM-ON-p, concise and individualized communication skills training (CST), improves oncologists' communication skills in consultations focusing on the transition to palliative care. Methods Forty-one physicians were randomly assigned to a control (CG) or intervention group (IG). At t0, all physicians held two video-recorded consultations with actor-patient pairs. Afterward, physicians in the IG participated in COM-ON-p. Five weeks after t0, a second assessment took place (t1). COM-ON-p consists of an 11-hour workshop (1.5 days), pre- and postassessment (2 hours), and coaching (0.5 hours). Physicians focused on practicing individual learning goals with actor patients in small groups. To evaluate the training, blinded raters assessed communication behavior of the physicians in video-recorded actor-patient consultations using a specific checklist. Data were analyzed using a mixed model with baseline levels as covariates. Results P...

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