Tsui-Hsia Hsu1,2, I-Chuan Li1, Chun-Kai Fang3,4,5,6, Woung-Ru Tang6,7, Chih-Tsun Lin6. 1. School of Nursing, National Yang-Ming University, Taiwan. 2. Health Promotion Administration, Ministry of Health and Welfare. 3. Department of Psychiatry and Suicide Prevention Center. 4. Department of Medicine, Mackay Medical College, New Taipei. 5. Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei. 6. Taiwan Psycho-Oncology Society. 7. School of Nursing, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Studies have emphasized that the disclosure of a diagnosis and prognosis is the doctor's responsibility, but little attention has been given to the importance of interdisciplinary cooperation. OBJECTIVE: Therefore, this study examined and compared the effectiveness of cancer communication skills training (CST) for doctors and interdisciplinary staff in Taiwan. METHODS: This study utilized a quasi-experimental design. The participants were 124 oncology professionals who participated in cancer CST. These 124 professionals included a group of 65 doctors and a group of 59 interdisciplinary professionals, both of which received the same CST. After the participants have received CST, the changes in their disease disclosure skills were evaluated. RESULTS: Significant pretest-posttest differences were observed in the overall truth-telling scores for both groups (doctors: t = 6.94, P < 0.001; interdisciplinary professionals: t = 7.71, P < 0.001) and in different constructs. However, in many items, the doctors demonstrated no progress after receiving the training (P > 0.05), whereas the interdisciplinary professionals demonstrated significant progress (P < 0.05). In particular, the doctors' scores for 'disclosing information in a monotonous tone' showed significant retrogression (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in the overall truth-telling scores of the two groups with regard to pre- and post-CST (P > 0.05 and P > 0.05, respectively), and there were also no significant differences in the four sub-scales' scores. CONCLUSION: The CST for interdisciplinary professionals improved their cooperation and communication skills.
BACKGROUND: Studies have emphasized that the disclosure of a diagnosis and prognosis is the doctor's responsibility, but little attention has been given to the importance of interdisciplinary cooperation. OBJECTIVE: Therefore, this study examined and compared the effectiveness of cancer communication skills training (CST) for doctors and interdisciplinary staff in Taiwan. METHODS: This study utilized a quasi-experimental design. The participants were 124 oncology professionals who participated in cancer CST. These 124 professionals included a group of 65 doctors and a group of 59 interdisciplinary professionals, both of which received the same CST. After the participants have received CST, the changes in their disease disclosure skills were evaluated. RESULTS: Significant pretest-posttest differences were observed in the overall truth-telling scores for both groups (doctors: t = 6.94, P < 0.001; interdisciplinary professionals: t = 7.71, P < 0.001) and in different constructs. However, in many items, the doctors demonstrated no progress after receiving the training (P > 0.05), whereas the interdisciplinary professionals demonstrated significant progress (P < 0.05). In particular, the doctors' scores for 'disclosing information in a monotonous tone' showed significant retrogression (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in the overall truth-telling scores of the two groups with regard to pre- and post-CST (P > 0.05 and P > 0.05, respectively), and there were also no significant differences in the four sub-scales' scores. CONCLUSION: The CST for interdisciplinary professionals improved their cooperation and communication skills.
Authors: Ádala Nayana de Sousa Mata; Kesley Pablo Morais de Azevedo; Liliane Pereira Braga; Gidyenne Christine Bandeira Silva de Medeiros; Victor Hugo de Oliveira Segundo; Isaac Newton Machado Bezerra; Isac Davidson Santiago Fernandes Pimenta; Ismael Martínez Nicolás; Grasiela Piuvezam Journal: Medicine (Baltimore) Date: 2019-08 Impact factor: 1.817