title: Breaking bad news to patients with cancer: A randomized control trial of a brief communication skills training module incorporating the stories and preferences of actual patients.
abstract: This study tested the effectiveness of a brief, learner-centered, breaking bad news (BBN) communication skills training module using objective evaluation measures.
  
  
  
  This randomized control study (N=66) compared intervention and control groups of students (n=28) and residents' (n=38) objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) performance of communication skills using Common Ground Assessment and Breaking Bad News measures.
  
  
  
  Follow-up performance scores of intervention group students improved significantly regarding BBN (colon cancer (CC), p=0.007, r=-0.47; breast cancer (BC), p=0.003, r=-0.53), attention to patient responses after BBN (CC, p<0.001, r=-0.74; BC, p=0.001, r=-0.65), and addressing feelings (BC, p=0.006, r=-0.48). At CC follow-up assessment, performance scores of intervention group residents improved significantly regarding BBN (p=0.004, r=-0.43), communication related to emotions (p=0.034, r=-0.30), determining patient's readiness to proceed after BBN and communication preferences (p=0.041, r=-0.28), active listening (p=0.011, r=-0.37), addressing feelings (p<0.001, r=-0.65), and global interview performance (p=0.001, r=-0.51).
  
  
  
  This brief BBN training module is an effective method of improving BBN communication skills among medical students and residents.
  
  
  
  Implementation of this brief individualized training module within health education programs could lead to improved communication skills and patient care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, USA. Electronic address: jgorniewicz@gmail.com.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gorniewicz
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, USA.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Floyd
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, USA.
authors.forename: Koyamangalath
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Krishnan
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, USA.
authors.forename: Thomas W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Bishop
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, USA.
authors.forename: Fred
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tudiver
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, USA.
authors.forename: Forrest
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lang
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence; D003142:Communication; D003479:Curriculum; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D016544:Patient Simulation; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology*; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology*; D014342:Truth Disclosure
keywords: Breaking bad news; Cancer; Common ground assessment; Communication skills training; Education; Empathy; Narrative; Objective structured clinical examination (OSCE); Qualitative; Stories