Is it possible to improve radiotherapy team members’ communication skills. A randomized study assessing the efficacy of a 38h communications skills training program
Training; Cancer; Communication skills; Team working
Abstract :
[en] Background and purpose: Optimizing communication between radiotherapy team members and patients and between colleagues requires training. This study applies a randomized controlled design to assess the efficacy of a 38-h communication skills training program.
Material and methods: Four radiotherapy teams were randomly assigned either to a training program or to a waiting list. Team members’ communication skills and their self-efficacy to communicate in the context of an encounter with a simulated patient were the primary endpoints. These encounters were scheduled at the baseline and after training for the training group, and at the baseline and four months later for the waiting list group. Encounters were audiotaped and transcribed. Transcripts were analyzed with content analysis software (LaComm) and by an independent rater.
Results: Eighty team members were included in the study. Compared to untrained team members, trained team members used more turns of speech with content oriented toward available resources in the team (relative rate [RR] = 1.38; p = 0.023), more assessment utterances (RR = 1.69; p < 0.001), more empathy (RR = 4.05; p = 0.037), more negotiation (RR = 2.34; p = 0.021) and more emotional words (RR = 1.32; p = 0.030), and their self-efficacy to communicate increased (p = 0.024 and p = 0.008, respectively).
Conclusions: The training program was effective in improving team members’ communication skills and their self-efficacy to communicate in the context of an encounter with a simulated patient. Future study should assess the effect of this training program on communication with actual patients and their satisfaction.
Moreover a cost-benefit analysis is needed, before implementing such an intensive training program on a broader scale.
Disciplines :
Oncology
Author, co-author :
GIBON, Anne-Sophie; Institut Jules Bordet
MERCKAERT, Isabelle; Institut Jules Bordet
LIENARD, Aurore; Institut Jules Bordet
LIBERT, Yves; Institut Jules Bordet
DELVAUX, Nicole; Université Libre de Bruxelles - ULB
MARCHAL, Serge; CPO Bruxelles
Etienne, Anne-Marie ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département Psychologies Cliniques et Systèmes Humains > Psychologie de la santé
REYNAERT, Christine; Université Catholique de Louvain - UCL
SLACHMUYLDER, Jean-Louis; C.P.O Bruxelles
SCALLIET, Pierre; Université Catholique de Louvain - UCL
VAN HOUTTE, Paul; Institut Jules Bordet
COUCKE, Philippe ; Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Liège - CHU > Radiothérapie
Is it possible to improve radiotherapy team members’ communication skills. A randomized study assessing the efficacy of a 38h communications skills training program
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