Communicating Actively Responding Empathically (CARE): Comparison of Communication Training Workshops for Health Professionals Working in Cancer Care

Nixon, James W.; Gray, Len; Turner, Jane; Bernard, Anne; Scaife, J.E.; Cartmill, Bena

doi:10.1007/s13187-018-1439-0

Cited by 8 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…The current study showed that participants reported all health professional interactions as helpful (including radiation therapist, occupational therapy, nursing and medical staff), indicating potential multidisciplinary involvement to screen for and discuss mask anxiety with patients who require a mask for RT. Intervention and support for mask anxiety could be delivered by any health professional discipline, however as suggested by participants in other studies it is essential that this health professional intervention is underpinned by communication skills to ensure the choice of words and responses are effective in promoting an effective response …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A prospective examination of mask anxiety during radiotherapy for head and neck cancer and patient perceptions of management strategies

Nixon

Brown

Pigott

et al. 2019

J of Medical Radiation Sci

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Introduction Distress related to wearing an immobilisation mask for radiotherapy treatment (RT) is a common experience for the person undergoing RT for head and neck cancer (HNC). Described as ‘mask anxiety’, there is little known about the patterns of this distress through the course of the treatment or what strategies are being used by people to help alleviate mask anxiety. Methods The study used a prospective cohort design to examine the patterns of patient–reported mask anxiety during the course of RT, using a modified Distress Thermometer (DT) and a survey to explore strategies patients used to assist their mask anxiety. Results Thirty‐five participants, who identified as experiencing mask anxiety, were followed throughout RT treatment. At baseline, females were more likely to experience higher mask anxiety (P = 0.03). Across the course of treatment, mask anxiety significantly (P < 0.001) reduced within the total cohort. In 72% of participants, the level of initial distress was found to reduce over time. Only 22% experienced mask anxiety that remained constant. Few (6%) experienced an increase in mask anxiety across the course of RT. Participants reported relying on intervention from health professionals, self–taught strategies, music, visualisation and medication to manage their mask anxiety. Conclusions Due to its high prevalence and variable patterns over time, it is recommended that routine screening for mask anxiety be implemented as standard care throughout the course of RT for HNC. Multiple, diverse strategies are being used by patients and studies are needed to develop effective interventions for managing mask anxiety.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A prospective examination of mask anxiety during radiotherapy for head and neck cancer and patient perceptions of management strategies

Nixon

Brown

Pigott

et al. 2019

J of Medical Radiation Sci

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“…The close relationship between empathy and effective communication has been previously described in studies with students and health professionals, stressing the importance of this dimension to improve patient satisfaction and acceptance of bad prognoses. 3 , 23 - 25 Therefore, sensitization on empathy may be an essential aspect to be considered when designing and including courses and activities to improve the communication skills of medical students.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Improvement of medical students' performance in simulated patient interviews by pre-clinical communication training

et al. 2022

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Objectives To compare the communication skills shown by medical students during simulated patient interviews between those who received training in communication during the preclinical years and those who did not. Methods A retrospective study was conducted to analyze the communication skills of several cohorts of fourth-year medical students from Universitat Internacional de Catalunya during simulated patient interviews. Out of a total of 477 students included in the study, 229 (48%) had received training in communication skills through a 60-hour elective course during the preclinical second year, while the remaining 248 (52%) had received none. Communication skills were assessed by an evaluation team using a numerical scale (0 to 10) that included eight categories: "verbal", "non-verbal", "empathy", "concreteness", "warmth", "message content", "assertiveness", and "respect". Scores obtained by trained and non-trained students were compared using the t-test. Results A trend towards obtaining better results was observed among students who had received communication training (mean score: 6.98/10) versus none (6.83/10, t (1,869) =-1.95, p=0.05). Non-trained male students obtained significantly lower mean scores than non-trained females in the categories of "respect" (7.48/10 vs. 7.83/10, t (968) =-2.89, p<0.01), "verbal communication" (6.87/10 vs. 7.15/10, t (968) =-2.61, p=0.01), “warmth” (6.53/10 vs. 6.95/10, t (968) =-3.40, p<0.01), and "non-verbal communication" (6.49/10 vs. 6.79/10, t (968) =-2.48, p=0.01). Trained female and male students had similar scores. Conclusions Training in communication skills during the preclinical years may improve fourth-year students' performance in simulated interviews with patients, particularly among males. These results demonstrate the importance of introducing specific training in communication skills early in the undergraduate medical curriculum.

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“…Regardless of the type or severity of an HRQoL factor, clinician communicated recognition of patient/family suffering and potential isolation, can provide the support patients/family need to initiate self-motivated modifications [52,53]. Thus, small simple gestures of communications can have a powerful impact on patients/families.…”

Section: Communicationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Trauma-informed care is simply a commitment to respect, compassion, safety, and patient empowerment [58]. It characterizes a patient-centered relationship built upon compassionate principles as guided by the six simple trauma-informed practices [52,53,59]:…”

Section: Trauma-informed Patient Communicationmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) in Sarcoidosis: Diagnosis, Management, and Health Outcomes

et al. 2021

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Health-related quality of life (HRQoL), though rarely considered as a primary endpoint in clinical trials, may be the single outcome reflective of patient priorities when living with a health condition. HRQoL is a multi-dimensional concept that reflects the degree to which a health condition interferes with participation in and fulfillment of important life areas. HRQoL is intended to capture the composite degree of physical, physiologic, psychological, and social impairment resulting from symptom burden, patient-perceived disease severity, and treatment side effects. Diminished HRQoL expectedly correlates to worsening disability and death; but interventions addressing HRQoL are linked to increased survival. Sarcoidosis, being a multi-organ system disease, is associated with a diffuse array of manifestations resulting in multiple symptoms, complications, and medication-related side effects that are linked to reduced HRQoL. Diminished HRQoL in sarcoidosis is related to decreased physical function, pain, significant loss of income, absence from work, and strain on personal relationships. Symptom distress can result clearly from a sarcoidosis manifestation (e.g., ocular pain, breathlessness, cough) but may also be non-specific, such as pain or fatigue. More complex, a single non-specific symptom, e.g., fatigue may be directly sarcoidosis-derived (e.g., inflammatory state, neurologic, hormonal, cardiopulmonary), medication-related (e.g., anemia, sleeplessness, weight gain, sub-clinical infection), or an indirect complication (e.g., sleep apnea, physical deconditioning, depression). Identifying and distinguishing underlying causes of impaired HRQoL provides opportunity for treatment strategies that can greatly impact a patient’s function, well-being, and disease outcomes. Herein, we present a reference manual that describes the current state of knowledge in sarcoidosis-related HRQoL and distinguish between diverse causes of symptom distress and other influences on sarcoidosis-related HRQoL. We provide tools to assess, investigate, and diagnose compromised HRQoL and its influencers. Strategies to address modifiable HRQoL factors through palliation of symptoms and methods to improve the sarcoidosis health profile are outlined; as well as a proposed research agenda in sarcoidosis-related HRQoL.

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Communicating Actively Responding Empathically (CARE): Comparison of Communication Training Workshops for Health Professionals Working in Cancer Care

Cited by 8 publications

References 16 publications

A prospective examination of mask anxiety during radiotherapy for head and neck cancer and patient perceptions of management strategies

A prospective examination of mask anxiety during radiotherapy for head and neck cancer and patient perceptions of management strategies

Improvement of medical students' performance in simulated patient interviews by pre-clinical communication training

Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) in Sarcoidosis: Diagnosis, Management, and Health Outcomes

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