Abstract
Accessing full-day communication skills training can be challenging for health professionals working in cancer care. This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of Communicating Actively, Responding Empathically (CARE Express), a modified 2-h communication skills training course, across measures of health professional confidence, skills and attitudes. Cancer care health professionals (n = 147) were recruited from allied health, nursing and medical disciplines, using a partial randomisation to allocate to three arms: control, two-hour training (CARE Express) and 1-day training (CARE). Perceived confidence and skills were measured by self-report using a purpose-built scale, and written responses to a challenging clinical encounter were obtained at baseline, post-training and three-months post-training. Attitudes toward psychosocial issues were evaluated with the Physician Belief Scale at baseline and 3 months post-training. No changes were observed in the control group (n = 50) from baseline to 3 months follow-up. Participants in the CARE Express (n = 48) and CARE (n = 49) groups had significant improvement in confidence in identifying/responding to emotions between baseline and 3 months post-training (p < 0.001), as well as their attitude toward psychosocial care (p < 0.001). A significant increase in “acknowledging” responses from baseline to 3 months was also observed for CARE Express and CARE (p < 0.001), with no difference between groups. CARE Express and CARE resulted in changes in confidence in emotional identification/response, psychosocial focus and communication skills maintained at 3 months post-training. Whilst the 1-day workshop has been regarded as gold standard, this study has revealed positive outcomes with a modified 2-h version, thus offering a potential alternate training model.
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Acknowledgements
We thank all the health professionals who participated in the workshops. Special thanks to the Director of the Occupational Therapy Department, and Cancer Services Management team at Princess Alexandra Hospital Brisbane for their support with this research and implementing communication skills training for all staff in Cancer Services.
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Appendix 1- Clinical Vignettes
Appendix 1- Clinical Vignettes
The following vignettes have been developed from clinical cases. The aim of this is to gain some idea of how you would respond to these situations if they arose in your clinical work. Please read the following vignettes and complete the questions which follow:
Meet Sonya.
Sonya is a 45-year-old single woman with a diagnosis of head and neck cancer. She has recently completed her chemotherapy and radiation and is attending her outpatient appointment today. Sonya has little eye-contact and is visibly teary. When asked how things are going she responds, “I had enough, I can hardly even swallow, let alone eat…I don’t know why I bothered even having this treatment”.
List, in order, five (5) things you would say to Sonya in your role as a health professional.
Meet Arthur.
Arthur is a 69-year-old man who has recently completed intensive treatment at a major cancer centre. Arthur is being discharged home to regional Queensland at the end of his treatment protocol. Arthur is agitated and angrily says “it’s all very well here, but who is going to help me when I get home?”
List, in order, five (5) things you would say to Arthur in your role as a health professional.
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Nixon, J., Gray, L., Turner, J. et al. Communicating Actively Responding Empathically (CARE): Comparison of Communication Training Workshops for Health Professionals Working in Cancer Care. J Canc Educ 35, 54–60 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-018-1439-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-018-1439-0