OBJECTIVES: The quality of medical care by somatically treating physicians has considerable influence on the coping process in cancer patients. In outpatient psychosocial care, information supply and doctor-patient interaction are often considered difficult by the patients. This study therefore investigates the effects of a teaching and training programme on interactional skills of experienced physicians in dealing with cancer patients. METHODS: In a pre-post comparison design, the effects of a 6-hour and a 24-hour interaction and teaching programme were compared. To measure the effects, interviews with standardised patients were carried out and analysed using the Medical Interaction Process System (Ford 1998). RESULTS: About one third of all physicians practicing in the area of Mönchengladbach, Germany, could be motivated to participate in the programme. The physicians who received the 24-hour training showed a substantial improvement in interaction skills whereas no marked changes were seen in those physicians who had participated in the 6-hour training. CONCLUSIONS: Interactional skills of experienced physicians can be improved by teaching and training programmes. Therefore, doctor-patient interaction training should be integrated into continuing medical education.
OBJECTIVES: The quality of medical care by somatically treating physicians has considerable influence on the coping process in cancerpatients. In outpatientpsychosocial care, information supply and doctor-patient interaction are often considered difficult by the patients. This study therefore investigates the effects of a teaching and training programme on interactional skills of experienced physicians in dealing with cancerpatients. METHODS: In a pre-post comparison design, the effects of a 6-hour and a 24-hour interaction and teaching programme were compared. To measure the effects, interviews with standardised patients were carried out and analysed using the Medical Interaction Process System (Ford 1998). RESULTS: About one third of all physicians practicing in the area of Mönchengladbach, Germany, could be motivated to participate in the programme. The physicians who received the 24-hour training showed a substantial improvement in interaction skills whereas no marked changes were seen in those physicians who had participated in the 6-hour training. CONCLUSIONS: Interactional skills of experienced physicians can be improved by teaching and training programmes. Therefore, doctor-patient interaction training should be integrated into continuing medical education.
Authors: F Fischer; S Helmer; A Rogge; J I Arraras; A Buchholz; A Hannawa; M Horneber; A Kiss; M Rose; W Söllner; B Stein; J Weis; P Schofield; C M Witt Journal: BMC Cancer Date: 2019-08-14 Impact factor: 4.430