Development of the LaComm 1.0, A French medical communication analysis software: A study assessing its sensitivity to change.
To test and compare the sensitivity to change of a communication analysis software, the LaComm 1.0, to the CRCWEM's using data from a randomized study assessing the efficacy of a communication skills training program designed for nurses.



The program assessment included the recording of two-person simulated interviews at baseline and after training or 3 months later. Interview transcripts were analyzed using the CRCWEM and the LaComm 1.0 tools.



One hundred and nine oncology nurses (mainly graduated or certified) were included in the study. The CRCWEM detected 5 changes out of 13 expected changes (38%) (e.g., more open directive questions after training) and the LaComm 1.0, 4 changes out of 7 expected changes (57%) (e.g., more empathic statements after training). For open directive question, the effect sizes of the group-by-time changes were slightly different between tools (CRCWEM: Cohen's d=0.97; LaComm 1.0: Cohen's d=0.67).



This study shows that the LaComm 1.0 is sensitive to change.



The LaComm 1.0 is a valid method to assess training effectiveness in French. The use of the Lacomm 1.0 in future French communication skills training programs will allow comparisons of studies.
Institut Jules Bordet, Brussels, Belgium; Université Libre de Bruxelles, Faculté des Sciences Psychologiques et de l'Éducation, Brussels, Belgium.
Anne-Sophie
AS
Gibon
Centre de Psycho-Oncologie, Brussels, Belgium.
Jean-François
JF
Durieux
Institut Jules Bordet, Brussels, Belgium; Université Libre de Bruxelles, Faculté des Sciences Psychologiques et de l'Éducation, Brussels, Belgium.
Isabelle
I
Merckaert
Université Libre de Bruxelles, Faculté des Sciences Psychologiques et de l'Éducation, Brussels, Belgium; Hôpital Universitaire Erasme, Service de Psychologie, Brussels, Belgium.
Nicole
N
Delvaux
Centre de Psycho-Oncologie, Brussels, Belgium.
Christine
C
Farvacques
Institut Jules Bordet, Brussels, Belgium; Université Libre de Bruxelles, Faculté des Sciences Psychologiques et de l'Éducation, Brussels, Belgium.
Yves
Y
Libert
Centre de Psycho-Oncologie, Brussels, Belgium.
Serge
S
Marchal
Centre de Psycho-Oncologie, Brussels, Belgium.
Angélique
A
Moucheux
Centre de Psycho-Oncologie, Brussels, Belgium.
Jean-Louis
JL
Slachmuylder
Institut Jules Bordet, Brussels, Belgium; Université Libre de Bruxelles, Faculté des Sciences Psychologiques et de l'Éducation, Brussels, Belgium. Electronic address: drazavi@ulb.ac.be.
Darius
D
Razavi
D003142:Communication; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing; D006801:Humans; D008495:Medical Oncology / Q000193:education; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology; D009726:Nurses; D009859:Oncology Nursing / Q000193:education* / Q000592:standards; D016544:Patient Simulation; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012984:Software; D000078329:Workforce
Communication skills training program; Sensitivity to change; Tools