title: Development and preliminary evaluation of communication skills training program for oncologists based on patient preferences for communicating bad news.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purposes of this study were to develop a communication skills training (CST) workshop program based on patient preferences, and to evaluate preliminary feasibility of the CST program on the objective performances of physicians and the subjective ratings of their confidence about the communication with patients at the pre- and post-CST.
  
  
  METHODS
  The CST program was developed, based on the previous surveys on patient preferences (setting up the supporting environment of the interview, making consideration for how to deliver bad news, discussing about additional information, and provision of reassurance and emotional support) and addressing the patient's emotion with empathic responses, and stressing the oncologists' emotional support. The program was participants' centered approach, consisted a didactic lecture, role plays with simulated patients, discussions and an ice-breaking; a total of 2-days. To evaluate feasibility of the newly developed CST program, oncologists who participated it were assessed their communication performances (behaviors and utterances) during simulated consultation at the pre- and post-CST. Participants also rated their confidence communicating with patients at the pre-, post-, and 3-months after CST, burnout at pre and 3 months after CST, and the helpfulness of the program at post-CST.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixteen oncologists attended a newly developed CST. A comparison of pre-post measures showed improvement of oncologists' communication performances, especially skills of emotional support and consideration for how to deliver information. Their confidence in communicating bad news was rated higher score at post-CST than at pre-CST and was persisted at 3-months after the CST. Emotional exhaustion scores decreased at 3-months after CST. In addition, oncologists rated high satisfaction with all components of the program.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This pilot study suggests that the newly developed CST program based on patient preferences seemed feasible and potentially effective on improving oncologists' communication behaviors what patients prefer and confidence in communicating with patients.
authors.affiliation: Psycho-Oncology Division,Research Center for Innovative Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital East,Kashiwa,Chiba,Japan.
authors.forename: Maiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fujimori
authors.affiliation: Psycho-Oncology Division,Research Center for Innovative Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital East,Kashiwa,Chiba,Japan.
authors.forename: Yuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shirai
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Clinical Psychology, Teikyo Heisei University,Toshima-ku,Tokyo,Japan.
authors.forename: Mariko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Asai
authors.affiliation: Department of Psycho-oncology,Chiba Cancer Center,Chuo-ku,Chiba,Japan.
authors.forename: Nobuya
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Akizuki
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology,Nippon Medical School, Musashikosugi Hospital,Nakahara-ku,Kawasaki,Kanagawa,Japan.
authors.forename: Noriyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Katsumata
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology Division,Nippon Medical School Hospital,Bunkyo-ku,Tokyo,Japan.
authors.forename: Kaoru
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kubota
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuropsychiatry,Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine,Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences,Kita-ku,Okayama,Japan.
authors.forename: Yosuke
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Uchitomi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003142:Communication; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008495:Medical Oncology / Q000193:education*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D057240:Patient Preference; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D010865:Pilot Projects; D014342:Truth Disclosure