Abstract
Background: Physicians caring for cancer patients receive little formal training in difficult communications such as breaking bad news, discussing life support, and addressing patients' emotional concerns. Methods: The authors conducted a three-day workshop in communication skills for nine oncology attendings and three fellows. Topics for the workshop were selected by participants by a pre-workshop questionnaire. Small groups of four to five participants interviewed simulated patients who role-played scripts based on the selected topics. Sessions on self-awareness and one on planning for continuing the work of the group after the workshop were included. Results: Responses to pretest and posttest questionnaires showed that the workshop increased the participants' confidence in a number of communication areas and also in managing physician burnout. Process issues such as patient death and expectations for cure were also discussed. Conclusion: Interactive workshops offer a promising way of teaching communication skills and aspects of the physician-patient relationship to oncologists. Conclusions regarding outcome, however, are preliminary and tentative, and long-term results are uncertain.
Original language | English (US) |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 166-173 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Journal of Cancer Education |
Volume | 12 |
Issue number | 3 |
State | Published - 1997 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Oncology
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health