Participative development and evaluation of a communication skills-training program for oncologists-patient perspectives on training content and teaching methods.

BACKGROUND: Using the 6-step approach to curriculum development for medical education, we developed a communication skills training (CST) curriculum for oncology and evaluated this curriculum from the perspective of cancer patients. METHODS: We conducted a qualitative interview study with cancer patients, collecting data using semi-structured face-to-face or telephone interviews with a short standardized survey. We fully transcribed the audiotaped interviews and conducted the content analysis using MAXQDA 2020. We analyzed the quantitative sociodemographic data descriptively. RESULTS: A total of 22 cancer patients participated, having a mean age of 60.6 (SD, 13.2) years and being predominantly female (55%). The patients believed that the CST curriculum addressed important aspects of patient-centered communication in cancer care. They emphasized the importance of physicians acquiring communication skills to establish a trusting relationship between doctor and patient, show empathy, inform patients, and involve them in treatment decisions. The patients had some doubts concerning the usefulness of strict protocols or checklists (e.g., they feared that protocol adherence might disturb the conversation flow). DISCUSSION: Although it was a challenge for some participants to take the perspective of a trainer and comment on the CST content and teaching methods, the patients provided a valuable perspective that can help overcome blind spots in CST concepts.

[KoMPASS--design, implementation and experiences concerning a structured communication skills training for physicians dealing with oncology]. / KoMPASS - Konzeption, Implementierung und Erfahrungen mit einem strukturierten Kommunikationstraining für onkologisch tätige Ärzte.

Goal of the KoMPASS project is to develop and test a training program that effectively improves oncologists' communication skills. The training draws with regard to concept, content and didactic methods to the specific challenges arising in interactions with cancer patients. Concept and didactical methods for an intensive training (KoMPASS Training) are being presented and complemented with experiences gathered during 39 trainings with 335 physicians, as well as findings from the training evaluation by participants. The participants' feedback after 4 months indicates successful transfer into clinical practice along with personal relief, improved self-efficacy, and communicative competencies. Even experienced practitioners ascribe high practical usefulness, and personal learning achievements to the KoMPASS training. The results of the concomitant study concerning self-efficacy, empathy, work-related stress and communicative competence will be published later.

Communication Skills Trainings: Subjective Appraisal of Physicians from Five Cancer Centres in North Rhine, Germany.

BACKGROUND: Physician-patient communication is an essential component of high-quality health care provision for cancer patients. To date, communication skills training programmes have not been systematically implemented in oncology and have low physician participation rates. METHODS: As a part of a needs assessment a written questionnaire was used to explore needs and preferences (structural conditions and content) regarding communication skills training programmes for physicians working in oncology settings in 5 university hospitals in North Rhine, Germany. RESULTS: 207 physicians took part in the survey. Analyses revealed positive attitudes and high willingness to attend such training programmes, with a preference for short trainings that are compatible with clinical practice. Suggested topics included breaking bad news, conversations about death and dying and dealing with difficult emotions. CONCLUSION: Communication skills training approaches should not only pay attention to evidence regarding their efficacy, but also take into consideration physicians' needs and preferences. Further research is required on the subject of barriers to participation in such training programmes.

[Internet-based conjoint analysis with the example of medical networks]. / Internetbasierte Conjoint Analyse am Beispiel ärztlicher Netzwerke.

The present paper will demonstrate the usefulness of conjoint analysis in the area of medicine, a method that is well-known in consumer research. The aim was to investigate the preference structure of network-oriented physicians regarding competitive consulting and information offerings in the context of a hypothetical network between a hospital and office-based physicians. A combination of qualitative ("grounded theory") and quantitative ("conjoint analysis") methods was used. Combined items from the field of information, consultation, advanced training and financing were available. The following combination was preferred: attendance of a medical specialist in the outpatient department (factor "consultation"), the receipt of brief physician info letters (factor "information"), the possibility of discussing one's own patients with other physicians (factor "advanced training") and self-financing such an offer (factor "financing").

[Integrative psychosomatics: contributions to a reform of medical training]. / Integrierte Psychosomatik: Beiträge zu einer Reform des Medizinstudiums.

Medical training has so far mainly emphasised teaching of knowledge and neglected fostering of theoretical and practical competence in doctors' occupation. The consequences of these deficits are often experienced as "practice shock" when young doctors start working. New concepts of teaching moduls in psychosocial subjects may enhance medical competence. We present some of the contents and didactic concepts which we have implemented in the medical curriculum of Cologne University.