Results from a Train-the-Trainer Communication Program for Oncology Nurses.

Authors

null

Elaine Wittenberg

Division of Nursing Research and Education, Department of Population Sciences, City of Hope, Duarte, CA

Elaine Wittenberg, Betty R. Ferrell, Jo Hanson, Susan Eggly

Organizations

Division of Nursing Research and Education, Department of Population Sciences, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, Karmanos Cancer Institute/Wayne State University, Detroit, MI

Research Funding

NIH

Background: Oncology nurses working across the cancer continuum need communication tools in order to navigate between oncology and palliative care for the benefit of patients and their families. An evidence-based communication training course funded by the National Cancer Institute and identified by the acronym COMFORT was provided to 187 oncology nurses across the nation. Launched in 2015, it is the first train-the-trainer communication training course for nurses and addresses communication across the cancer continuum. Methods: The curriculum, emphasizing team communication, teaches nurses how to provide life-altering news, assess patient/family health literacy needs, practice mindful communication, acknowledge family caregivers, and address communication openings and goals. The curriculum covers the continuum of cancer care (diagnosis, treatment, survivorship, recurrence, end of life). Two courses were held and participants were contacted at six months for follow-up evaluation. Results: Course participants reported teaching an additional 2,460 healthcare providers, primarily nurses (1,961) and physicians (264). On average, each participant trained 21 nurses and two physicians. The training manual, which was provided during the course, was used by 81% of course participants and was rated as effective (7.71 out of 10). The most commonly taught curriculum modules were Communication (25.5%), Mindful Communication (22.3%), Team Communication (18.5%), and Family Caregivers (11.4%). Course participants reported that their institution were most effective with communication during treatment (7.21 out of 10) and least effective communication occurred during bereavement (5.02), at time of death (5.97), through survivorship (5.63), and with patients facing end of life (6.09). Conclusions: The train-the-trainer model for communication training appears to be a viable and promising strategy for broadly teaching communication across the cancer continuum. Train-the-trainer is less costly than traditional on-site training methods and allows instruction to be tailored to address the institution’s least effective communication practices across the cancer continuum.

Disclaimer

This material on this page is ©2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology, all rights reserved. Licensing available upon request. For more information, please contact licensing@asco.org

Abstract Details

Meeting

2016 Palliative and Supportive Care in Oncology Symposium

Session Type

Poster Session

Session Title

Poster Session B

Track

Biologic Basis of Symptoms and Treatment Toxicities,Psycho-oncology,End-of-Life Care,Survivorship,Management/Prevention of Symptoms and Treatment Toxicities,Psychosocial and Spiritual Care,Communication in Advanced Cancer

Sub Track

Communication skills

Citation

J Clin Oncol 34, 2016 (suppl 26S; abstr 26)

DOI

10.1200/jco.2016.34.26_suppl.26

Abstract #

26

Poster Bd #

C8

Abstract Disclosures

Similar Abstracts

First Author: Lisa Mikesell

Abstract

2021 ASCO Quality Care Symposium

Hospitalization burden and end-of-life (EOL) care in elderly patients with glioblastoma (GBM).

First Author: Laura Donovan

First Author: Elizabeth Francis

Abstract

2024 ASCO Quality Care Symposium

Interventions to reduce racial/ethnic disparities across the breast cancer care continuum.

First Author: Milan George