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The effect of the computer-assisted interactive video training interact-cancer on the communication skills of medical specialists in oncology.
Hulsman, R.L., Ros, W.J.G., Winnubst, J.A.M., Bensing, J.M. The effect of the computer-assisted interactive video training interact-cancer on the communication skills of medical specialists in oncology. Patient Education and Counseling: 1998, 34(Suppl.1), p. S19-S20. Abstract.
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Introduction. INTERACT-CANCER is an interactive course for training communication skills of medical specialists in oncology. The course aims at teaching patient-centred behaviour. It includes four main topics in doctor-patient communication: basic skills, communicating bad news, informing patients, and dealing with emotional reactions of the patient. The course program was developed to facilitate the access to learning of post-graduate physicians. Methods. The course is tested in and evaluated by 21 medical specialists in oncology, working in 7 hospitals. An assessment of their communication behaviour in real life consultations with cancer patients was made at 4 measurement moments; 2 pre-course measurements, and 2 post-course measurements. The physicians did the course between T2 and T3 at their workplace on an individual basis. Each measurement moment three sources of information were used to assess the communication behaviour of the participating physicians: 1) independent ratings of videotaped consultations, 2) satisfaction of the patients about the interaction, 3) satisfaction of the physician about the interaction. Results. Interact-Cancer was positively evaluated by the participating physicians. The computer-assisted training method was evaluated as attractive and pleasant. The course content was evaluated as being worthwhile, relevant, appropriate, and well-structured. Furthermore, the participants stated they are attended on inadequate behaviour, stimulated to think about own behaviour and stimulated to change behaviour. The measurements show an improvement in the quality of communication skills from pre to post training in a subgroup of physicians who state themselves that they put aspects of the training into practice. No training effects were found on the satisfaction ratings of the patients and the physicians. Conclusion. INTERACT-CANCER shows to be a very promising course. Especially among well motivated physicians an improvement in the quality of communication is achievable by means of a computer assisted course. (aut. ref.)
Introduction. INTERACT-CANCER is an interactive course for training communication skills of medical specialists in oncology. The course aims at teaching patient-centred behaviour. It includes four main topics in doctor-patient communication: basic skills, communicating bad news, informing patients, and dealing with emotional reactions of the patient. The course program was developed to facilitate the access to learning of post-graduate physicians. Methods. The course is tested in and evaluated by 21 medical specialists in oncology, working in 7 hospitals. An assessment of their communication behaviour in real life consultations with cancer patients was made at 4 measurement moments; 2 pre-course measurements, and 2 post-course measurements. The physicians did the course between T2 and T3 at their workplace on an individual basis. Each measurement moment three sources of information were used to assess the communication behaviour of the participating physicians: 1) independent ratings of videotaped consultations, 2) satisfaction of the patients about the interaction, 3) satisfaction of the physician about the interaction. Results. Interact-Cancer was positively evaluated by the participating physicians. The computer-assisted training method was evaluated as attractive and pleasant. The course content was evaluated as being worthwhile, relevant, appropriate, and well-structured. Furthermore, the participants stated they are attended on inadequate behaviour, stimulated to think about own behaviour and stimulated to change behaviour. The measurements show an improvement in the quality of communication skills from pre to post training in a subgroup of physicians who state themselves that they put aspects of the training into practice. No training effects were found on the satisfaction ratings of the patients and the physicians. Conclusion. INTERACT-CANCER shows to be a very promising course. Especially among well motivated physicians an improvement in the quality of communication is achievable by means of a computer assisted course. (aut. ref.)