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Developing and Implementing an Advanced Communication Training Program in Oncology at a Comprehensive Cancer Center

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Abstract

Cancer patients report significant levels of unmet needs in the realm of communication. Communication skills training programs have been shown to improve clinical communication. However, advanced communication skills training programs in oncology have lacked institutional integration, and thus have not attended to institutional norms and cultures that may counteract explicit communication skills training. We developed and implemented an advanced communication skills training program made up of nine teaching modules for faculty, fellows, and residents. Training included didactic and experiential small group work. Self-efficacy and behavior change were assessed for individual participants. Since 2006, 515 clinicians have participated in this training program. Participants have shown significant gains in self-efficacy regarding communicating with patients in various contexts. Our initial work in this area demonstrates the implementation of such a program at a major cancer center to be feasible, to be acceptable, and to have a significant impact on participants' self-efficacy.

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Acknowledgments

This study was funded by Arthur Vining Davis Foundation, Josiah H. Macy, Jr. Foundations, and Kenneth B. Schwartz Center.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 641 Lexington Ave., 7th floor, New York, NY, 10022, USA

    Carma L. Bylund, Philip A. Bialer, Tomer T. Levin & David W. Kissane

  2. Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA

    Richard F. Brown

  3. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, James A. Haley Veterans Hospital, Tampa, FL, USA

    Barbara Lubrano di Ciccone

Authors
  1. Carma L. Bylund
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  2. Richard F. Brown
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  3. Philip A. Bialer
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  4. Tomer T. Levin
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  5. Barbara Lubrano di Ciccone
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  6. David W. Kissane
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Carma L. Bylund.

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Bylund, C.L., Brown, R.F., Bialer, P.A. et al. Developing and Implementing an Advanced Communication Training Program in Oncology at a Comprehensive Cancer Center. J Canc Educ 26, 604–611 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-011-0226-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-011-0226-y

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