title: Communication Skills Training in Pediatric Oncology: Moving Beyond Role Modeling.
abstract: Communication is central to pediatric oncology care. Pediatric oncologists disclose life-threatening diagnoses, explain complicated treatment options, and endeavor to give honest prognoses, to maintain hope, to describe treatment complications, and to support families in difficult circumstances ranging from loss of function and fertility to treatment-related or disease-related death. However, parents, patients, and providers report substantial communication deficits. Poor communication outcomes may stem, in part, from insufficient communication skills training, overreliance on role modeling, and failure to utilize best practices. This review summarizes evidence for existing methods to enhance communication skills and calls for revitalizing communication skills training within pediatric oncology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts.|Department of Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.|Ariadne Labs, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Angela M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Feraco
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Sarah R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Brand
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts.|Department of Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.|Center for Population Sciences, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Jennifer W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Mack
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts.|Department of Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.|Center for Population Sciences, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Jennifer C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Kesselheim
authors.affiliation: Ariadne Labs, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts.|Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts.|Departments of Psychiatry and Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.|Harvard Medical School Center for Palliative Care, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Susan D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Block
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.|Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wolfe
mesh_terms: D003142:Communication; D004501:Education, Medical / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008495:Medical Oncology / Q000193:education*; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000193:education*; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations
keywords: childhood cancer; communication skills; communication skills training; fellowship training; graduate medical education; medical education; pediatric oncology
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