Yves Libert1, Delphine Canivet2, Catherine Ménard3, Laëtitia Van Achte4, Christine Farvacques5, Isabelle Merckaert6, Aurore Liénard3, Jean Klastersky3, Christine Reynaert4, Jean-Louis Slachmuylder5, Jean-François Durieux5, Nicole Delvaux7, Darius Razavi6. 1. Unité de recherche en psychosomatique et en psycho-oncologie, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium; Institut Jules Bordet, Brussels, Belgium. Electronic address: yves.libert@bordet.be. 2. Unité de recherche en psychosomatique et en psycho-oncologie, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium; Service de psychologie, Hopital Universitaire Erasme, Brussels, Belgium. Electronic address: delphine.canivet@erasme.ulb.ac.be. 3. Institut Jules Bordet, Brussels, Belgium. 4. Faculté de psychologie, Université Catholique de Louvain, Louvain-La-Neuve, Belgium. 5. Centre de Psycho-Oncologie (CPO): training and research group, Brussels, Belgium. 6. Unité de recherche en psychosomatique et en psycho-oncologie, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium; Institut Jules Bordet, Brussels, Belgium. 7. Unité de recherche en psychosomatique et en psycho-oncologie, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium; Service de psychologie, Hopital Universitaire Erasme, Brussels, Belgium.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Physicians' characteristics that influence their communication performance (CP) in decision-making encounters have been rarely studied. In this longitudinal study, predictors of physicians' CP were investigated with a simulated advanced-stage cancer patient. METHODS: Physicians (n=85) performed a decision-making encounter with a simulated patient (SP). Their CP was calculated by analyzing encounter transcripts with validated interaction analysis systems. Potential specific psychological predictors were physicians' empathy towards the SP (Jefferson Scale of Physician Empathy, JSPE) and their decisional conflict about the treatment (Decisional Conflict Scale, DCS). Potential general psychological predictors were physicians' empathy towards cancer patients (JSPE), their decisional conflict about cancer patients' treatments (DCS), and their affective reactions to uncertainty (Physicians' Reactions to Uncertainty, PRU). RESULTS: Physicians' CP was predicted by their decisional conflict about the SP's treatment (DCS) (β=0.41; p< 0.001) and their affective reactions to uncertainty regarding cancer treatments (PRU) (β=-0.31; p=0.003). CONCLUSION: During encounters with advanced-stage cancer patients, physicians' awareness of uncertainty about which treatments to consider may facilitate their communication performance, whereas physicians' affective reactions to uncertainty may inhibit their performance. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Physicians' decisional conflict and reactions to uncertainty should be addressed in communication skills training programs.
OBJECTIVES: Physicians' characteristics that influence their communication performance (CP) in decision-making encounters have been rarely studied. In this longitudinal study, predictors of physicians' CP were investigated with a simulated advanced-stage cancerpatient. METHODS: Physicians (n=85) performed a decision-making encounter with a simulated patient (SP). Their CP was calculated by analyzing encounter transcripts with validated interaction analysis systems. Potential specific psychological predictors were physicians' empathy towards the SP (Jefferson Scale of Physician Empathy, JSPE) and their decisional conflict about the treatment (Decisional Conflict Scale, DCS). Potential general psychological predictors were physicians' empathy towards cancerpatients (JSPE), their decisional conflict about cancerpatients' treatments (DCS), and their affective reactions to uncertainty (Physicians' Reactions to Uncertainty, PRU). RESULTS: Physicians' CP was predicted by their decisional conflict about the SP's treatment (DCS) (β=0.41; p< 0.001) and their affective reactions to uncertainty regarding cancer treatments (PRU) (β=-0.31; p=0.003). CONCLUSION: During encounters with advanced-stage cancerpatients, physicians' awareness of uncertainty about which treatments to consider may facilitate their communication performance, whereas physicians' affective reactions to uncertainty may inhibit their performance. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Physicians' decisional conflict and reactions to uncertainty should be addressed in communication skills training programs.
Authors: Inge Henselmans; Hanneke W M van Laarhoven; Hanneke C J M de Haes; Meltem Tokat; Ellen G Engelhardt; Pomme E A van Maarschalkerweerd; Marleen Kunneman; Petronella B Ottevanger; Serge E Dohmen; Geert-Jan Creemers; Dirkje W Sommeijer; Filip Y F L de Vos; Ellen M A Smets Journal: Oncologist Date: 2018-06-29
Authors: Catharina Schoenfeld; Yves Libert; Heribert Sattel; Delphine Canivet; France Delevallez; Andreas Dinkel; Pascal O Berberat; Alexander Wuensch; Darius Razavi Journal: BMC Cancer Date: 2018-11-23 Impact factor: 4.430
Authors: Caterina Calderon; Paula Jiménez-Fonseca; Pere Joan Ferrando; Carlos Jara; Urbano Lorenzo-Seva; Carmen Beato; Teresa García-García; Beatriz Castelo; Avinash Ramchandani; María Mar Muñoz; Eva Martínez de Castro; Ismael Ghanem; Montse Mangas; Alberto Carmona-Bayonas Journal: Int J Clin Health Psychol Date: 2018-02-13