Phase III study of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer satisfaction with cancer care core questionnaire (EORTC PATSAT-C33) and specific complementary outpatient module (EORTC OUT-PATSAT7).

Advances in cancer care delivery require revision and further development of questionnaires assessing patients' perceived quality of care. This study pre-tested the revised EORTC satisfaction with cancer care core questionnaire applicable in both the cancer inpatient and outpatient settings, and its new, outpatient-specific complementary module. The process of revision, development of the extended application, and pre-testing of these questionnaires was based on phases I to III of the "EORTC Quality of Life Group Module Development Guidelines." In phase III, patients in 11 countries in four European regions, South America and Asia completed provisional versions of the questionnaires. Fifty-seven relevant issues selected from literature reviews and input from experts were operationalized into provisional items, and subsequently translated into ten languages. Assessment of understanding, acceptability, redundancy and relevance by patients (n = 151) from oncology inpatient wards, and outpatient chemotherapy, radiotherapy and consultation settings, led to retention of, deletion of and merging of 40, 14 and 6 items respectively. Cronbach's alpha coefficients for hypothesized questionnaire scales were above 0.80. Our results provide preliminary support for the 33-item EORTC Satisfaction with cancer care core questionnaire and the 7-item complementary module specific for the outpatient care setting. A large scale phase IV cross-cultural psychometric study is now underway.

Patients' perceived tolerance of side effects in phase I cancer clinical trials: A qualitative study.

This qualitative study aimed to explore cancer patients' perceived tolerance of side effects in phase I drug trials. Patients with solid tumours receiving molecularly targeted agents with/without chemotherapy were eligible for inclusion. In-depth semi-structured interviews were carried out with 17 patients with a median [range] age of 63 [41-72] years. Treatment was discontinued in seven patients. Verbatim transcripts of the audio-taped interviews were analysed using a constructivist grounded theory approach. Four conceptual categories emerged from data analysis, labelled "suffering from side effects" comprising a range of symptoms, psychosocial or role disturbances; "striving to cope with side effects" reflecting psychological strategies for managing side effects; "hoping" reflecting expectations about treatment efficacy and relief from side effects; and "appraisal of care." Among patients remaining in the trial, treatment was currently perceived as fairly tolerable. For most respondents, whether still in a trial or not, treatment discontinuation could not be justified by the non-tolerance of treatment side effects. These results question the adequacy of patient-perceived tolerance reports to determine an optimal drug dose for phase II trials. Confronted with patients' hopes and inappropriate beliefs, communication is challenging in phase I trials and could benefit from facilitating psychosocial interventions.

The international phase 4 validation study of the EORTC QLQ-SWB32: A stand-alone measure of spiritual well-being for people receiving palliative care for cancer.

The EORTC Quality of Life Group has just completed the final phase (field-testing and validation) of an international project to develop a stand-alone measure of spiritual well-being (SWB) for palliative cancer patients. Participants (n = 451)-from 14 countries on four continents; 54% female; 188 Christian; 50 Muslim; 156 with no religion-completed a provisional 36-item measure of SWB plus the EORTC QLQ-C15-PAL (PAL), then took part in a structured debriefing interview. All items showed good score distribution across response categories. We assessed scale structure using principal component analysis and Rasch analysis, and explored construct validity, and convergent/divergent validity with the PAL. Twenty-two items in four scoring scales (Relationship with Self, Relationships with Others, Relationship with Someone or Something Greater, and Existential) explained 53% of the variance. The measure also includes a global SWB item and nine other items. Scores on the PAL global quality-of-life item and Emotional Functioning scale weakly-moderately correlated with scores on the global SWB item and two of the four SWB scales. This new validated 32-item SWB measure addresses a distinct aspect of quality-of-life, and is now available for use in research and clinical practice, with a role as both a measurement and an intervention tool.

Identifying trajectory clusters in breast cancer survivors' supportive care needs, psychosocial difficulties, and resources from the completion of primary treatment to 8 months later.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to chart patterns of simultaneous trajectories over 8 months in breast cancer survivors' (BCS) supportive care needs, psychological distress, social support, and posttraumatic growth. Clusters of BCS among these trajectories were identified and characterized. METHODS: Of 426 BCS study participants, 277 (65%) provided full assessments in the last week of primary cancer treatment and 4 and 8 months later. Latent trajectories were obtained using growth mixture modeling for patients who responded to all scores for at least one time point (n = 348). Then, classification of BCS was performed by hierarchical agglomerative clustering on axes derived from a multiple factor analysis of trajectory assignments. Self-esteem, attachment security, and satisfaction with care were assessed at baseline. RESULTS: Four trajectory clusters were identified, including two BCS subgroups (63%) with low needs and low psychological distress. Two others (37%) exhibited high or increasing needs and concerning levels of psychological distress. These latter clusters were characterized by higher insecure attachment, lower satisfaction with care, and either lower education or younger age, and having undergone chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: More than a third of BCS present unfavorable patterns in supportive care needs over 8 months after primary cancer treatment. Identified psychosocial and cancer care characteristics point to targets for enhanced BCS supportive care.

Quality of care in the oncology outpatient setting from patients' perspective: a systematic review of questionnaires' content and psychometric performance.

BACKGROUND: Cancer care is increasingly provided in the outpatient setting, requiring specific monitoring of care quality. The patients' perspective is an important indicator of care quality and needs to be assessed with well designed, psychometrically sound questionnaires. We performed a systematic literature review of currently available patient satisfaction measures for use in cancer outpatient care settings. METHODS: We carried out MEDLINE/PubMed, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and Scopus searches of papers published over the past 15 years that describe cancer patient satisfaction questionnaires for use in the outpatient setting. We used the adapted COSMIN checklist to assess the quality of the questionnaires' measurement properties. RESULTS: A total of 6677 citations were identified and 76 relevant articles were read, of which 55 were found either not to be relevant or to provide insufficient psychometric information. The remaining 21 studies pertained to 14 patient satisfaction questionnaires. Continuity and transition, accessibility, and involvement of family/friends were less frequently addressed despite their relevance in outpatient oncology. Almost half of the psychometric studies did not provide information on item level missing data. Most internal consistency estimates (Cronbach's α) were satisfactory. Few studies reported test-retest assessment (n = 5), used confirmatory factor analysis (n = 2), or assessed fit to a graded response item response theory model (n = 3). Only three questionnaires were cross-culturally validated. CONCLUSION: Important aspects of care may be missed by current patient satisfaction questionnaires for use in the cancer outpatient setting. Additional evidence is needed of their psychometric performance, especially for cross-cultural comparative assessments.

Evaluation properties of the French version of the OUT-PATSAT35 satisfaction with care questionnaire according to classical and item response theory analyses.

PURPOSE: The present study investigates the properties of the French version of the OUT-PATSAT35 questionnaire, which evaluates the outpatients' satisfaction with care in oncology using classical analysis (CTT) and item response theory (IRT). METHODS: This cross-sectional multicenter study includes 692 patients who completed the questionnaire at the end of their ambulatory treatment. CTT analyses tested the main psychometric properties (convergent and divergent validity, and internal consistency). IRT analyses were conducted separately for each OUT-PATSAT35 domain (the doctors, the nurses or the radiation therapists and the services/organization) by models from the Rasch family. We examined the fit of the data to the model expectations and tested whether the model assumptions of unidimensionality, monotonicity and local independence were respected. RESULTS: A total of 605 (87.4%) respondents were analyzed with a mean age of 64 years (range 29-88). Internal consistency for all scales separately and for the three main domains was good (Cronbach's α 0.74-0.98). IRT analyses were performed with the partial credit model. No disordered thresholds of polytomous items were found. Each domain showed high reliability but fitted poorly to the Rasch models. Three items in particular, the item about "promptness" in the doctors' domain and the items about "accessibility" and "environment" in the services/organization domain, presented the highest default of fit. A correct fit of the Rasch model can be obtained by dropping these items. Most of the local dependence concerned items about "information provided" in each domain. A major deviation of unidimensionality was found in the nurses' domain. CONCLUSIONS: CTT showed good psychometric properties of the OUT-PATSAT35. However, the Rasch analysis revealed some misfitting and redundant items. Taking the above problems into consideration, it could be interesting to refine the questionnaire in a future study.

Pilot-testing the French version of a provisional European organisation for research and treatment of cancer (EORTC) measure of spiritual well-being for people receiving palliative care for cancer.

Spiritual well-being is increasingly recognised as an important aspect of patients' quality of life when living with a potentially life-limiting illness such as cancer. The European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Group is developing a measure for assessing spiritual well-being cross-culturally for people receiving palliative care for cancer. The pilot-testing phase of the study explored potential problems related to the content and administration of a provisional version of this measure. The French version was pilot-tested with 12 patients in a palliative and supportive day care unit in Paris. Participants were asked to complete the measure and the EORTC QLQ-C15-PAL before being interviewed about their responses. The administration of the measure enabled participants to express the difficulties and existential concerns they experienced. The items were not considered intrusive, despite the sensitive topic of the measure. This article considers difficulties with items pertaining to 'religion' and 'spirituality' in the context of French culture. Overall, this measure appears to enhance holistic care, by providing caregivers with a means of broaching spirituality issues, a topic otherwise difficult to discuss in the context of palliative care.

Facilitating patient-oncologist communication in advanced treatment-resistant cancer: development and feasibility testing of a question prompt list.

BACKGROUND: Patients' expectations regarding medical information in advanced stages of cancer are still poorly understood. Tailoring information to advanced cancer patients is a subtle task. We developed a question prompt list (QPL) that serves as a patient-oncologist communication aid in France. METHODS: A four-step sequential mixed method involving patients with luminal B/triple-negative metastatic breast cancer or metastatic uveal melanoma (N = 110) and patients' partners, oncologists, and researchers (N = 18) was used. In-depth interviews and questionnaires focused on the information needed at the disclosure of metastasis or resistance to treatment (step 1), the formulation of questions and procedures for use in oncology visits (steps 2 and 3), and the acceptability of the final tool (stage 4). RESULTS: The initial version of the QPL consists of 17 questions covering 5 themes (disease, current treatment, other options, living with cancer, prognosis). In step 2, 13 questions were added, 2 were merged, and 5 were deleted; a short form (4 questions) and recommendations for clinical use were proposed. In step 3, 2 questions were merged, and 6 were deleted. Four oncologists (27% of the target population) took part in step 4, and the QPL was discussed with 20 patients, revealing a positive appraisal. CONCLUSION: We provide a rigorously developed, relevant, concise, and acceptable question prompt list for clinical application in the advanced cancer care setting in France. Further research needs to assess whether this tool actually facilitates oncologist-patient communication and improves satisfaction with care and health outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study is listed on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04118062) and registered under identification n° IRRID "International Registered Report Identifier": DERR1-10.2196/26414.

Management of second ipsilateral breast tumor event: An advocacy for a randomized trial.

For a second ipsilateral breast tumor event, salvage mastectomy is the standard of care while second conservative treatment is a possible option. However, level 1 proofs are missing, leading to perform salvage mastectomy for patients who could receive second conservative treatment and consequently avoid psychological/quality of life salvage mastectomy deleterious impacts. A phase 3 randomized trial comparing salvage mastectomy to second conservative treatment is needed. Here we discuss what would be to us the optimal design of such trial to confirm the non-inferiority between the two salvage options, with a focus on methodological aspects in terms of patient characteristics and statistical issues.

Short-term psychological impact of the BRCA1/2 test result in women with breast cancer according to their perceived probability of genetic predisposition to cancer.

BACKGROUND: The effect of BRCA1/2 gene test result on anxiety, depression, cancer-related thought intrusion or avoidance and perceived control over cancer risk was assessed in breast cancer (BC) patients, according to their perceived probability of genetic predisposition to cancer. METHODS: Two hundred and forty-three (89% response rate) women with BC completed questionnaires after an initial genetic counselling visit (T1), of which 180 (66%) completed questionnaires again after receiving the BRCA1/2 results (T2). The discrepancy between women's perceived probability of cancer genetic predisposition at T1 and the geneticist's computed estimates was assessed. RESULTS: In all, 74% of women received a negative uninformative (NU), 11% a positive BRCA1/2 and 15% an unclassified variant (UV) result. On hierarchical regression analysis, in women with a positive BRCA1/2 result (vs NU or UV), a lower perceived probability of cancer genetic predisposition than objective estimates at T1 predicted lower levels of anxiety at T2 (ß=-0.28; P<0.01), whereas in women receiving a UV result (vs NU or positive BRCA1/2), a lower perceived probability of cancer genetic predisposition than objective estimates at T1 predicted higher levels of anxiety (ß=0.20; P<0.01), depression (ß=0.19; P<0.05) and intrusion (ß=0.18; P<0.05) at T2. CONCLUSION: The type of BRCA1/2 test result differently affects distress according to women's perceived probability of genetic predisposition before testing.

International validation of the EORTC QLQ-ELD14 questionnaire for assessment of health-related quality of life elderly patients with cancer.

BACKGROUND: Older people represent the majority of cancer patients but their specific needs are often ignored in the development of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) instruments. The European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QLQ-ELD15 was developed to supplement the EORTC's core questionnaire, the QLQ-C30, for measuring HRQOL in patients aged >70 years in oncology studies. METHODS: Patients (n=518) from 10 countries completed the QLQ-C30, QLQ-ELD15 and a debriefing interview. Eighty two clinically stable patients repeated the questionnaires 1 week later (test-retest analysis) and 107 others, with an expected change in clinical status, repeated the questionnaires 3 months later (response to change analysis, RCA). RESULTS: Information from the debriefing interview, factor analysis and item response theory analysis resulted in the removal of one item (QLQ-ELD15QLQ-ELD14) and revision of the proposed scale structure to five scales (mobility, worries about others, future worries, maintaining purpose and illness burden) and two single items (joint stiffness and family support). Convergent validity was good. In known-group comparisons, the QLQ-ELD14 differentiated between patients with different disease stage, treatment intention, number of comorbidities, performance status and geriatric screening scores. Test-retest and RCA analyses were equivocal. CONCLUSION: The QLQ-ELD14 is a validated HRQOL questionnaire for cancer patients aged 70 years. Changes in elderly patients' self-reported HRQOL may be related to both cancer evolution and non-clinical events.

Assessment of needs, health-related quality of life, and satisfaction with care in breast cancer patients to better target supportive care.

BACKGROUND: This study assessed whether breast cancer (BC) patients express similar levels of needs for equivalent severity of symptoms, functioning difficulties, or degrees of satisfaction with care aspects. BC patients who did (or not) report needs in spite of similar difficulties were identified among their sociodemographic or clinical characteristics. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Three hundred and eighty-four (73% response rate) BC patients recruited in ambulatory or surgery hospital services completed the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life questionnaire (EORTC QLQ)-C30 quality of life [health-related quality of life (HRQOL)], the EORTC IN-PATSAT32 (in-patient) or OUT-PATSAT35 (out-patient) satisfaction with care, and the supportive care needs survey short form 34-item (SCNS-SF34) measures. RESULTS: HRQOL or satisfaction with care scale scores explained 41%, 45%, 40% and 22% of variance in, respectively, psychological, physical/daily living needs, information/health system, and care/support needs (P < 0.001). BC patients' education level, having children, hospital service attendance, and anxiety/depression levels significantly predicted differences in psychological needs relative to corresponding difficulties (adjusted R² = 0.11). Medical history and anxiety/depression levels significantly predicted differences in information/health system needs relative to degrees of satisfaction with doctors, nurses, or radiotherapy technicians and general satisfaction (adjusted R² = 0.12). Unmet needs were most prevalent in the psychological domains across hospital services. CONCLUSIONS: Assessment of needs, HRQOL, and satisfaction with care highlights the subgroups of BC patients requiring better supportive care targeting.

Validation of the 34-item Supportive Care Needs Survey and 8-item breast module French versions (SCNS-SF34-Fr and SCNS-BR8-Fr) in breast cancer patients.

This study aimed to assess the psychometric robustness of the French version of the Supportive Care Needs Survey and breast cancer (BC) module (SCNS-SF34-Fr and SCNS-BR8-Fr). Breast cancer patients were recruited in two hospitals (in Paris, France and Lausanne, Switzerland) either in ambulatory chemotherapy or radiotherapy, or surgery services. They were invited to complete the SCNS-SF34-Fr and SCNS-BR8-Fr as well as quality of life and patient satisfaction questionnaires. Three hundred and eighty-four (73% response rate) BC patients returned completed questionnaires. A five-factor model was confirmed for the SCNS-SF34-Fr with adequate goodness-of-fit indexes, although some items evidenced content redundancy, and a one-factor was identified for the SCNS-BR8-Fr. Internal consistency and test-retest estimates were satisfactory for most scales. The SCNS-SF34-Fr and SCNS-BR8-Fr scales demonstrated conceptual differences with the quality of life and satisfaction with care scales, highlighting the specific relevance of this assessment. Different levels of needs could be differentiated between groups of BC patients in terms of age and level of education (P < 0.001). The SCNS-SF34-Fr and SCNS-BR8-Fr present adequate psychometric properties despite some redundant items. These questionnaires allow for the crucial endeavour to design appropriate care services according to BC patients' characteristics.

Patient's perception of care quality during radiotherapy sessions using respiratory gating techniques: validation of a specific questionnaire.

This prospective study was designed to validate a questionnaire on patients' perception of care quality during respiratory-gated radiotherapy for breast or lung cancer. Psychometric tests were performed on selected patients. Confirmatory factorial analyses and capacity to discriminate the responses were achieved to validate the best model on 297 patients. Factorial analyses identified the following three scales: (a) perception of quality, (b) global satisfaction, and (c) physical or emotional experience. The scales were able to differentiate patients' responses according to radiotherapy modalities. The questionnaire presented adequate psychometric properties. This tool could be used for the assessment from the patient's point of view.

The effectiveness of a psycho-educational group after early-stage breast cancer treatment: results of a randomized French study.

BACKGROUND: Many women with breast cancer need psychological help to cope more effectively after treatment. Cognitive and behavioural techniques are not yet well established in France. A multi-site randomized study was conducted to evaluate the effects of a psycho-educational group intervention in this population. METHODS: Two hundred and three patients, recruited after primary treatment, were randomly assigned either to a treatment group (psycho-educational intervention) or to a waiting-list control group. The 8-week programme of 2 h sessions comprised of thematic discussions, information and training in stress management techniques. Evaluation at baseline, after 8 sessions, and 1 month after programme completion, included evaluations using the STAI, POMS, MAC, EORTC QLQ-C30 and EORTC QLQ-BR23 breast module scales. RESULTS: We observed a significant reduction in anxiety (STAI, POMS) among group participants, a reduction in anger, depression and fatigue (POMS), a significant improvement in vigor and interpersonal relationships (POMS), in emotional and role functioning, in health status and fatigue level (EORTC QLQ-C30). In contrast, coping strategies (MAC) were not significantly different between groups. No group-related negative effects were observed and the global satisfaction levels were very high. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates the feasibility and effectiveness of a psycho-educational intervention, which can accelerate the reduction of those negative affects which are present at the end of treatment. It represents an excellent complement or an alternative to individual psycho-oncologic therapeutic support, widely proposed in France, and should now be tested in groups with other types of cancer and at other disease phases.

Determinants of patient satisfaction in oncology settings from European and Asian countries: preliminary results based on the EORTC IN-PATSAT32 questionnaire.

The aim of this study was to identify factors associated significantly with hospitalised cancer patients' satisfaction with care. Patients were recruited from four geographical/cultural groups, including five European countries and Taiwan. They rated their level of satisfaction by completing the EORTC IN-PATSAT32 questionnaire at home. Additionally, data were collected on the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics and the quality of life of the patients, as well as on institutional characteristics. Of 762 patients recruited, 647 (85%) returned a completed questionnaire. The number of nurses and doctors per bed, institution size, geo-cultural origin, ward setting, teaching/non-teaching setting, treatment toxicity, global health status, participation in clinical trials and education level were all associated significantly at the multivariate level with satisfaction with doctor and nurse interpersonal skills, information provision, availability, and/or overall satisfaction. A number of patient-, institutional- and culture-related factors are associated with the perceived quality of cancer care. Future studies, with appropriate sampling frames and stratification procedures, are needed to better understand cross-national and cross-cultural differences in cancer patient satisfaction.

Communication in genetic counselling for breast/ovarian cancer.

Cancer genetic counselling represents a very special situation of interaction between the geneticist and the counselee, marked by a number of specificities that account for its complexity. Cancer genetic counselling has multiple repercussions, such as identification of a deleterious genetic mutation associated with a high probability of developing breast and/or ovarian cancer, the implementation of preventive measures ranging from close surveillance to the decision to perform mutilating prophylactic surgical procedures, or the impact of the information on the other members of the counselee's family also concerned by the genetic risk. This chapter is based on a review of the literature that has been rapidly growing over recent years and on our clinical expertise as psycho-oncologists and geneticists. We will first present the reasons that make the information so critical. These reasons are both objective (complexity of the genetic information per se, difficulties of understanding the concept of risk) and subjective (information given to people with an emotionally charged family history and a perception of risks closely linked to their representation of cancer). At the same time, the counsellees are charged with the transmission of this information to members of their own family. We will then discuss the various modalities of communication in this setting. While unidirectional transfer of information from the geneticist to the counselee has been the preferred method in cancer genetics for a long time, a model based on patient-centered communication is more adequate in predictive medicine and allows shared decision making. In all cases, the different professionals involved in the process have to learn how to work in a performing cohesion. We also present the main guidelines on the subject and the various underlying objectives with regard to information delivery and the subject's personal experience. Although the psychological impact of genetic counselling consultations raises a number of questions, the results of preliminary studies are reassuring, demonstrating psychological benefits. However, a number of aspects concerning communication in predictive medicine remain to be investigated and improved.

An international prospective study of the EORTC cancer in-patient satisfaction with care measure (EORTC IN-PATSAT32).

Little is known about patients' satisfaction with care in oncology hospitals across cultural contexts. Within the EORTC, we developed a 32-item satisfaction with care questionnaire to measure patients' appraisal of hospital doctors and nurses, as well as aspects of care organisation and services. This study assessed the psychometric characteristics of the questionnaire, the EORTC IN-PATSAT32, in a large, international sample of patients with cancer. Patients discharged from a surgery or medical oncology ward in nine countries were invited to complete at home the EORTC IN-PATSAT32 as well as other instruments for psychometric testing. Of 762 eligible patients recruited, 15% failed to return the questionnaire. Of the 647 compliant patients, 63% completed the questionnaires within 15 min and 82% required no help in its completion. Multitrait scaling analysis revealed excellent internal consistency and convergent validity, although some scales within the IN-PATSAT32 were relatively highly correlated. Test-retest data on 113 patients showed high reliability for most scales. Scales of the IN-PATSAT32 and of the QLQ-C30 were not significantly correlated, suggesting that the two questionnaires are assessing quite distinct concepts. The scales of the IN-PATSAT32 were able to discriminate clearly between patients with differing care expectations and differing intentions to recommend their hospital to others. This study supports the acceptability to patients, and the psychometric robustness of the EORTC IN-PATSAT32 questionnaire. Further studies are needed to assess the responsiveness of the questionnaire to changes in the structure and process of care over time.

[Cancer patient's satisfaction assessment using the EORTC QLQ-SAT32: comparison between self-assessment and interview response]. / Satisfaction par rapport aux soins en oncologie évaluée par le QLQ-SAT32 de l'EORTC: comparaison entre auto-passation et entretien téléphonique.

BACKGROUND: For pertinent investigation of patient satisfaction it is important to know what type of data collection procedure yields optimal results. In this study, we compared a self- versus interview administration of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) patient satisfaction questionnaire (QLQ-SAT32), noting response and item omission rates. We also assessed the correlation and agreement between responses according to these modalities of questionnaire administration. METHODS: 123 patients recruited in two anti-cancer Centers in France were asked to complete the QLQ-SAT32 at home within 2 weeks of hospital discharge and were randomly allocated to participate in a telephone interview-administration of the QLQ-SAT32, either before or after self-completing the QLQ-SAT32. RESULTS: 104 patients completed both modalities of questionnaire administration. Agreement proved excellent for the doctors' and nurses' subscales and satisfactory for the services' subscale and the general satisfaction single item. However, a significant difference in response rate showed up between Centers (different interviewers) and the interview modality revealed an item omission rate higher than for the self-administration modality. CONCLUSION: Self- and interview-administration of the QLQ-SAT32 provided similar responses however different response rate between interviewers and higher item omission rate in interviews suggests a biasing effect of that modality of data collection.

The effects of a 24-h psychological training program on attitudes, communication skills and occupational stress in oncology: a randomised study.

The usefulness of psychological training programs (P.T.P.) in health care settings devoted to cancer care is beginning to be recognised but their content, form and effectiveness need further investigation. Seventy-two oncology nurses were randomly assigned to a 24-h P.T.P. or to a waiting list period. Attitudes were assessed by a semantic differential questionnaire, occupational stress was assessed by the Nursing Stress Scale and communication skills were assessed by standardised videotaped role-playing exercises. These were used to compare trained (T.S.) and control subjects (C.S.). The results show a significant training effect on attitudes (P = 0.05), especially on those related to self concept (P = 0.004), and on the level of occupational stress related to inadequate preparation (P = 0.02). Limited changes were found regarding post-training communication skills. T.S. were significantly more in control of the interview than C.S. (P = 0.02). The results indicate that 24-h P.T.P. assessed here are effective. The data also demonstrate the need to consolidate the skills acquired by regular post-training sessions.