Increasing oncologists' skills in eliciting and responding to emotional cues: evaluation of a communication skills training program

Purpose : Psychological morbidity in cancer patients is common, but often undetected and untreated. We developed a communication skills training (CST) program targeting this issue, and evaluated its impact on doctor behaviour. Patients and Methods : Thirty of 35 oncologists from six teaching hospitals in six Australian cities, participated. The CST was a 1.5‐day intensive face‐to‐face workshop incorporating presentation of principles, a DVD modelling ideal behaviour and role‐play practice, followed by four 1.5 h monthly video‐conferences incorporating role‐play of doctor‐generated scenarios. Doctors were randomized to receive the CST or not. Simulated patient interviews were videotaped and coded at baseline, after CST and 6 months later. Doctors completed questionnaires assessing stress and burnout at the same time points. Results : Doctors in the intervention group displayed more creating environment and fewer blocking behaviours at both follow‐ups; however, these differences did not reach statistical significance. Intervention doctors valued the training highly, but did not report substantial reductions in stress and burnout. Conclusions : This short training programme demonstrated a positive effect on aspects of doctor behaviour. Video‐conferencing after a short training course may be an effective strategy for delivering CST. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.