TY - JOUR
T1 - Communication skills training for healthcare professionals in oncology over the past decade
T2 - a systematic review of reviews
AU - Bos-van den Hoek, Danique W
AU - Visser, Leonie N C
AU - Brown, Richard F
AU - Smets, Ellen M A
AU - Henselmans, Inge
PY - 2019/3/1
Y1 - 2019/3/1
N2 - PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Effective communication in cancer care requires complex communication skills of healthcare professionals (HCPs), which can be advanced by communication skills training (CST). The number of empirical studies on CST has grown steadily over the last decade. However, controversies on CST abound. The aim of this review of reviews is to summarize evidence for the effectiveness of CST in oncology as well as for effective CST features (intensity, format and content) and to synthesize the current opinion on CST.RECENT FINDINGS: The evidence synthesized from multiple reviews supported the effect of CST on HCPs' communication skills. Yet, the certainty of evidence was limited as studies were diverse and effects heterogeneous. Furthermore, limited evidence was found for effective CST intensity, format and content. Authors of the reviews advocated further high-quality research with robust outcome measurement to establish the most essential features of CST and recommended implementation of CST in the standard training of HCPs with continuous supervision.SUMMARY: CST can probably improve some aspects of HCPs' communication skills. Despite the uncertain evidence, implementation of CST into clinical practice is widely advocated and specific recommendations regarding intensity and format are provided. Evidence to justify and substantiate implementation efforts is needed.
AB - PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Effective communication in cancer care requires complex communication skills of healthcare professionals (HCPs), which can be advanced by communication skills training (CST). The number of empirical studies on CST has grown steadily over the last decade. However, controversies on CST abound. The aim of this review of reviews is to summarize evidence for the effectiveness of CST in oncology as well as for effective CST features (intensity, format and content) and to synthesize the current opinion on CST.RECENT FINDINGS: The evidence synthesized from multiple reviews supported the effect of CST on HCPs' communication skills. Yet, the certainty of evidence was limited as studies were diverse and effects heterogeneous. Furthermore, limited evidence was found for effective CST intensity, format and content. Authors of the reviews advocated further high-quality research with robust outcome measurement to establish the most essential features of CST and recommended implementation of CST in the standard training of HCPs with continuous supervision.SUMMARY: CST can probably improve some aspects of HCPs' communication skills. Despite the uncertain evidence, implementation of CST into clinical practice is widely advocated and specific recommendations regarding intensity and format are provided. Evidence to justify and substantiate implementation efforts is needed.
KW - Clinical Competence
KW - Communication
KW - Health Personnel/education
KW - Humans
KW - Neoplasms/epidemiology
KW - Review Literature as Topic
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85060599129&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1097/SPC.0000000000000409
DO - https://doi.org/10.1097/SPC.0000000000000409
M3 - Article
C2 - 30562180
SN - 1751-4258
VL - 13
SP - 33
EP - 45
JO - Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care
JF - Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care
IS - 1
ER -