Enhancing patient participation by training radiation oncologists.
OBJECTIVE
Several studies have shown that patients' active participation to their medical interaction is beneficial for their information processing and their quality of life. Unfortunately, cancer patients often act rather passively in contact with their oncologists. We investigated whether cancer patients' participation in radiation therapy consultations could be enhanced by specific communicative behaviours of the radiation oncologists (ROs).


METHODS
Eight ROs and 160 patients participated; 80 patients in the pre training group and 80 patients in the post training group. The ROs were trained to use specific communicative behaviours that are supposed to encourage patient participation. In the training special attention was paid to communicative requirements in the first minutes of the consultation. The communicative behaviours of the ROs and the cancer patients were measured by the Roter Interaction Analysis System, and compared before and after the RO training.


RESULTS
From the start throughout the entire consultation, patients in the post training group participated more in interactions than patients in the pre training group: they discussed more psychosocial issues, expressed more concerns and contributed more to decision-making.


CONCLUSIONS
Cancer patients' participation in the initial radiation oncology consultations can be increased by training of ROs.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that doctors working with cancer patients should receive communication training and feedback on a regular base.
Timmermans
Liesbeth M
LM
Department of Medical Psychology, 840 Medical Psychology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands. L.Timmermans@mps.umcn.nl
van der Maazen
Richard W M
RW
van Spaendonck
Karel P M
KP
Leer
Jan Willem H
JW
Kraaimaat
Floris W
FW
D000046:Academic Medical Centers; D000328:Adult; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards; D003142:Communication; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003657:Decision Making; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D030141:Feedback, Psychological; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D009426:Netherlands; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000592:standards; D010358:Patient Participation / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D015397:Program Evaluation; D018787:Radiation Oncology / Q000193:education* / Q000592:standards