| dc.description.abstract | Purpose
This study assessed the efficacy of a 38-hour communication skills training program designed to
train a multidisciplinary radiotherapy team.
Methods
Four radiotherapy teams were randomly assigned to a training program or a waiting list.
Assessments were scheduled at baseline and after training for the training group and at baseline
and 4 months later for the waiting list group. Assessments included an audio recording of a
radiotherapy planning session to assess team members’ communication skills and expression of
concerns of patients with breast cancer (analyzed with content analysis software) and an adapted
European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer satisfaction with care questionnaire
completed by patients at the end of radiotherapy.
Results
Two hundred thirty-seven radiotherapy planning sessions were recorded. Compared with members
of the untrained teams, members of the trained teams acquired, over time, more assessment
skills (P = .003) and more supportive skills (P = .050) and provided more setting information (P =
.010). Over time, patients interacting with members of the trained teams asked more open
questions (P = .022), expressed more emotional words (P = .025), and exhibited a higher
satisfaction level regarding nurses’ interventions (P = .028).
Conclusion
The 38-hour training program facilitated transfer of team member learned communication skills to
the clinical practice and improved patients’ satisfaction with care. | en_US |
