Towards better communication in cancer care: a framework for developing evidence-based interventions.
Increasing recognition of the complexity and difficulty of communication in patient care has led to a burgeoning but chaotic literature that tends to be incomplete on any one topic. A co-ordinated, planned approach is required to facilitate the rapid development and implementation of evidence-based interventions in this area. We propose a seven-stage model of communication research that is designed to provide clear directions to improve communication in cancer care. The stages are: (1) identification of communication difficulties; (2) documentation of patient and clinician views; (3) identification of practices associated with better outcomes; (4) the development of evidence-based guidelines and interventions; (5) testing the effectiveness of the intervention in changing current practice and improving patient outcomes; (6) dissemination of the effective interventions; and (7) broad adoption of the intervention. Examples are provided for each stage of research to elucidate the type of study proposed.
Department of Haematology and Medical Oncology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Institute, Locked Bag 1, A'Beckett Street, Victoria 8006, Australia. penelope.schofield@petermac.org
Penelope E
PE
Schofield
Phyllis N
PN
Butow
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003142:Communication; D003625:Data Collection; D004282:Documentation; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination; D008960:Models, Psychological; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D010934:Planning Techniques; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012107:Research Design; D017749:Total Quality Management / Q000458:organization & administration