The effectiveness of a computer-assisted instruction programme on communication skills of medical specialists in oncology.
BACKGROUND
Although doctor--patient communication is important in health care, medical specialists are generally not well trained in communication skills. Conventional training programmes are generally time consuming and hard to fit into busy working schedules of medical specialists. A computer-assisted instruction (CAI) programme was developed -- 'Interact-Cancer' -- which is a time-efficient learning method and easily accessible at the workplace.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of the CAI training, 'Interact-Cancer', on the communication behaviour of medical specialists, and on satisfaction of patients about their physician interaction.


METHODS
Consultations of medical specialists with cancer outpatients were videotaped at 4 specific stages, 2 before and 2 after Interact-Cancer, with intervals of 4 weeks.


METHODS
Participants were 21 medical specialists, mainly internists, working in 7 hospitals, and 385 cancer outpatients.


METHODS
Communication behaviour was assessed on 23 observation categories derived from the course content. Frequencies were rated as well as judgements about the quality of the performance of each target skill. Satisfaction was measured by the Medical Interview Satisfaction Scale. Data were analyzed by means of multilevel statistical methods.


RESULTS
The behavioural assessment showed course effects on ratings of the physicians' quality of performance. No course effects were found on the frequencies of physicians' behaviours and on the patient satisfaction ratings.


CONCLUSIONS
CAI is a promising method to supply medical specialists with postgraduate training of communication skills. The application of judgement ratings of communication behaviour proved to be valuable to evaluate course effects in real-life patient encounters.
Hulsman
Robert L
RL
Academic Medical Centre, Department Medical Psychology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. R.L.Hulsman@AMC.UVA.NL
Ros
Wynand J G
WJ
Winnubst
Jacques A M
JA
Bensing
Jozien M
JM
D000328:Adult; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards*; D003142:Communication; D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction / Q000592:standards*; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008495:Medical Oncology / Q000193:education*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations