Carolyn Lefkowits1, Kerri Bevis2, Elise C Carey3, Jeanelle Sheeder4, Robert M Arnold5, Lisa Podgurski5. 1. Department of Obstetrics & Gynecologic, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO, United States of America; Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO, United States of America. Electronic address: carolyn.lefkowits@ucdenver.edu. 2. Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States of America. 3. Center for Palliative Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States of America. 4. Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Division of Family Planning, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO, United States of America. 5. Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, Section of Palliative Care & Medical Ethics, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Effective communication improves patient outcomes and is crucial to good patient care. Communication skills training (CST) has been shown to improve communication skills in non-gynecologic oncology specialties. We sought to develop and test CST for gynecologic oncology (GO) providers. METHODS: We developed and conducted a two-day CST workshop with an interprofessional group of 20 GO providers over two years. Participants were surveyed pre-workshop, immediately post-workshop and one month post-workshop regarding self-assessed preparedness to handle challenging communication tasks, workshop evaluation and impact on practice. McNemar's tests were used for pre-post comparisons. RESULTS: Of 12 challenging communication tasks assessed, all participants reported improvement in at least one, with a median of 10. The proportion of participants feeling more than "somewhat prepared" improved significantly for all communication tasks assessed (p < 0.05); improvement was sustained one month later. One month post-workshop, 86% reported thinking about what they had been taught at least weekly and 93% reported encountering situations where they used their CST skills at least weekly. Rates of reported practice-changing impact were >75% for each communication skill. All participants rated the CST educational quality very good or excellent and strongly agreed it should be required of all GO clinicians. CONCLUSIONS: Participants felt the workshop provided high-quality, practice-changing education. As a result of the workshop, participants reported statistically significant, sustained improvement in preparedness to handle challenging communication tasks. CST for GO providers is feasible, with high rates of perceived effectiveness and impact on clinical practice. CST workshops should be integrated into GO training.
OBJECTIVE: Effective communication improves patient outcomes and is crucial to good patient care. Communication skills training (CST) has been shown to improve communication skills in non-gynecologic oncology specialties. We sought to develop and test CST for gynecologic oncology (GO) providers. METHODS: We developed and conducted a two-day CST workshop with an interprofessional group of 20 GO providers over two years. Participants were surveyed pre-workshop, immediately post-workshop and one month post-workshop regarding self-assessed preparedness to handle challenging communication tasks, workshop evaluation and impact on practice. McNemar's tests were used for pre-post comparisons. RESULTS: Of 12 challenging communication tasks assessed, all participants reported improvement in at least one, with a median of 10. The proportion of participants feeling more than "somewhat prepared" improved significantly for all communication tasks assessed (p < 0.05); improvement was sustained one month later. One month post-workshop, 86% reported thinking about what they had been taught at least weekly and 93% reported encountering situations where they used their CST skills at least weekly. Rates of reported practice-changing impact were >75% for each communication skill. All participants rated the CST educational quality very good or excellent and strongly agreed it should be required of all GO clinicians. CONCLUSIONS:Participants felt the workshop provided high-quality, practice-changing education. As a result of the workshop, participants reported statistically significant, sustained improvement in preparedness to handle challenging communication tasks. CST for GO providers is feasible, with high rates of perceived effectiveness and impact on clinical practice. CST workshops should be integrated into GO training.