title: Effect of communication skills training program for oncologists based on patient preferences for communication when receiving bad news: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to identify the effects of a communication skills training (CST) program for oncologists, developed based on patient preferences regarding oncologists' communication.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty oncologists were randomly assigned to either an intervention group (IG; 2-day CST workshop) or control group (CG). Participants were assessed on their communication performance during simulated consultation and their confidence in communicating with patients at baseline and follow-up. A total of 1,192 patients (response rate, 84.6%) who had consultations with the participating oncologists at baseline and/or follow-up were assessed regarding their distress using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, satisfaction with the consultation, and trust in their oncologist after the consultation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At the follow-up survey, the performance scores of the IG had improved significantly, in terms of their emotional support (P = .011), setting up a supportive environment (P = .002), and ability to deliver information (P = .001), compared with those of the CG. Oncologists in the IG were rated higher at follow-up than those in the CG in terms of their confidence in themselves (P = .001). Patients who met with oncologists after they had undergone the CST were significantly less depressed than those who met with oncologists in the CG (P = .027). However, the CST program did not affect patient satisfaction with oncologists' style of communication.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A CST program based on patient preferences is effective for both oncologists and patients with cancer. Oncologists should consider CST as an approach to enhancing their communication skills.
authors.affiliation: Maiko Fujimori, Yuki Shirai, Mariko Asai, and Yosuke Uchitomi, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwa; Maiko Fujimori, National Cancer Center Hospital and National Institute of Mental Health, National Center for Neurology and Psychiatry; Yuki Shirai, University of Tokyo; Mariko Asai, Teikyo Heisei University; Kaoru Kubota, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo; Noriyuki Katsumata, Nippon Medical School, Musashikosugi Hospital, Kawasaki; and Yosuke Uchitomi, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan.
authors.forename: Maiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fujimori
authors.affiliation: Maiko Fujimori, Yuki Shirai, Mariko Asai, and Yosuke Uchitomi, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwa; Maiko Fujimori, National Cancer Center Hospital and National Institute of Mental Health, National Center for Neurology and Psychiatry; Yuki Shirai, University of Tokyo; Mariko Asai, Teikyo Heisei University; Kaoru Kubota, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo; Noriyuki Katsumata, Nippon Medical School, Musashikosugi Hospital, Kawasaki; and Yosuke Uchitomi, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shirai
authors.affiliation: Maiko Fujimori, Yuki Shirai, Mariko Asai, and Yosuke Uchitomi, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwa; Maiko Fujimori, National Cancer Center Hospital and National Institute of Mental Health, National Center for Neurology and Psychiatry; Yuki Shirai, University of Tokyo; Mariko Asai, Teikyo Heisei University; Kaoru Kubota, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo; Noriyuki Katsumata, Nippon Medical School, Musashikosugi Hospital, Kawasaki; and Yosuke Uchitomi, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan.
authors.forename: Mariko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Asai
authors.affiliation: Maiko Fujimori, Yuki Shirai, Mariko Asai, and Yosuke Uchitomi, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwa; Maiko Fujimori, National Cancer Center Hospital and National Institute of Mental Health, National Center for Neurology and Psychiatry; Yuki Shirai, University of Tokyo; Mariko Asai, Teikyo Heisei University; Kaoru Kubota, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo; Noriyuki Katsumata, Nippon Medical School, Musashikosugi Hospital, Kawasaki; and Yosuke Uchitomi, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan.
authors.forename: Kaoru
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kubota
authors.affiliation: Maiko Fujimori, Yuki Shirai, Mariko Asai, and Yosuke Uchitomi, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwa; Maiko Fujimori, National Cancer Center Hospital and National Institute of Mental Health, National Center for Neurology and Psychiatry; Yuki Shirai, University of Tokyo; Mariko Asai, Teikyo Heisei University; Kaoru Kubota, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo; Noriyuki Katsumata, Nippon Medical School, Musashikosugi Hospital, Kawasaki; and Yosuke Uchitomi, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan.
authors.forename: Noriyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Katsumata
authors.affiliation: Maiko Fujimori, Yuki Shirai, Mariko Asai, and Yosuke Uchitomi, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwa; Maiko Fujimori, National Cancer Center Hospital and National Institute of Mental Health, National Center for Neurology and Psychiatry; Yuki Shirai, University of Tokyo; Mariko Asai, Teikyo Heisei University; Kaoru Kubota, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo; Noriyuki Katsumata, Nippon Medical School, Musashikosugi Hospital, Kawasaki; and Yosuke Uchitomi, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan. uchitomi@md.okayama-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Yosuke
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Uchitomi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003142:Communication; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing / Q000639:trends*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008495:Medical Oncology / Q000193:education*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology; D057240:Patient Preference; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D035502:Trust; D014342:Truth Disclosure