Psychooncology. 2005 Oct;14(10):861-72; discussion 873-4. doi: 10.1002/pon.948.

Developing communication competency in the context of cancer: a critical interpretive analysis of provider training programs.

Psycho-oncology

Lorna Butler, Lesley Degner, Walter Baile, M Landry,

PMID: 16200525 DOI: 10.1002/pon.948

Abstract

We conducted a critical interpretive analysis of 47 studies from the Cochrane Review of the communications training literature to capture the empirical indicators used to judge provider communication competency and to describe how the indicators were characterized in the context of a cancer care system. Of the 47 studies reviewed, few showed any resemblance to recommendations from two international consensus conferences of experts in the communication research field. Some of the challenges in moving forward with cancer-related communication skills involve deciding what we want people to learn, providing learning across various experiences, identifying learning models, and finding alternate ways of motivating people to learn. Once core competencies are clearly articulated, we can determine the best approaches for developing cancer-specific training programs.

Copyright (c) 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

MeSH terms

• Communication*
• Education, Medical, Continuing*
• Humans
• Learning
• Motivation
• Neoplasms / psychology
• Patient Education as Topic
• Physician-Patient Relations*
• Program Development

Publication Types

• Journal Article
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
• Review