title: The effects of a 24-h psychological training program on attitudes, communication skills and occupational stress in oncology: a randomised study.
abstract: The usefulness of psychological training programs (P.T.P.) in health care settings devoted to cancer care is beginning to be recognised but their content, form and effectiveness need further investigation. Seventy-two oncology nurses were randomly assigned to a 24-h P.T.P. or to a waiting list period. Attitudes were assessed by a semantic differential questionnaire, occupational stress was assessed by the Nursing Stress Scale and communication skills were assessed by standardised videotaped role-playing exercises. These were used to compare trained (T.S.) and control subjects (C.S.). The results show a significant training effect on attitudes (P = 0.05), especially on those related to self concept (P = 0.004), and on the level of occupational stress related to inadequate preparation (P = 0.02). Limited changes were found regarding post-training communication skills. T.S. were significantly more in control of the interview than C.S. (P = 0.02). The results indicate that 24-h P.T.P. assessed here are effective. The data also demonstrate the need to consolidate the skills acquired by regular post-training sessions.
authors.affiliation: Service de Médecine et d'Investigation Clinique, H. J. Tagnon (Unité de Réhabilitation et de Psycho-Oncologie), Institut Jules Bordet, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Razavi
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Delvaux
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marchal
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bredart
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Farvacques
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Paesmans
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003142:Communication; D004506:Education, Nursing; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000523:psychology; D009859:Oncology Nursing; D011585:Psychology, Applied / Q000193:education*; D012649:Self Concept; D012659:Semantic Differential; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013997:Time Factors