title: Identifying and responding to depression in adult cancer patients: evaluating the efficacy of a pilot communication skills training program for oncology nurses.
abstract: Depression is a common response among cancer patients to their diagnosis and treatment; however, it goes undetected by healthcare providers in about 50% of cases. Communication skills training has been suggested as means to help nurses detect and respond to patient depression. We developed and pilot tested a communication skills training workshop based around 6 strategies. The training program consisted of 2 half-day experiential workshops that included didactic teaching, exemplary video, and role play. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the communication skills training. Fifteen nurses were recruited from the ambulatory nursing service at (redacted). Standardized patient assessments were used to measure strategy uptake. The presence of each strategy was rated on a 4-point scale from "not attempted" to "successfully attempted." Nurses also completed evaluations of the training program. The nurses attempted 3 of 6 strategies more commonly after training, and a trend to significance was observed in a fourth strategy. The nurses reported more confidence to deal with patient depression and had greater self-efficacy. This short training program demonstrated success in improving nurse communication skills and confidence in dealing with patient depression. A larger trial of the training is planned.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 641 Lexington Ave, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10022, USA. brownr@mskcc.org
authors.forename: Richard F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Carma L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Bylund
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kline
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De La Cruz
authors.forename: Jill
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Solan
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kelvin
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gueguen
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Eddington
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kissane
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Passik
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards; D003142:Communication; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017145:Models, Educational; D016294:Models, Nursing; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D009519:New York City; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology; D009859:Oncology Nursing / Q000193:education* / Q000379:methods; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015397:Program Evaluation; D020377:Self Efficacy