The Oncotalk model

In 2002, funding was recieved from the National Cancer Institute to develop a new teaching model for communication skills at the end of life, aimed at medical oncology fellows. Using this model, called Oncotalk, roughly 10% of the oncology fellows trained in the United States over a five-year period were taught. The aim of Oncotalk was to address shortcomings in communication between physicians and cancer patients. In developing the programme, key educational principles were utilised, some of which had been used in other communication skills training, others of which evolved as a result of the unique demands of the teaching context. Based on this Oncotalk experience, this chapter describes common evidence-based principles used in developing an advanced communication skills programme; identifies unique aspects of the learning context within an intensive retreat structure, and illustrates the lessons learned that can be tested in other settings. The aim is to provide tools and frameworks to facilitate teaching communication skills within oncology and other clinical training programmes that prepare clinicians to work with seriously ill patients.