Addressing the quality of communication with older cancer patients with cognitive deficits: Development of a communication skills training module.

Addressing the quality of communication with older cancer patients with cognitive deficits: Development of a communication skills training module. Palliat Support Care. 2020 Apr 16;:1-6 Authors: Korc-Grodzicki B, Alici Y, Nelson C, Alexander K, Manna R, Gangai N, Shen MJ, Parker PA, Banerjee SC Abstract OBJECTIVE: Effective communication is an essential part of patient-centered care. The complexity of cancer care in older adults makes communication challenging, particularly when older patients have cognitive deficits and lose their autonomy. This paper describes the development, implementation, and evaluation of a communication skills training module for health care providers (HCPs) who work with older adults with cancer, with or at risk of developing cognitive deficits. METHOD: Using a pre-post single arm study design, 99 HCPs from a comprehensive cancer center in North-East USA, who worked primarily with geriatric patients, participated in the study. Participants included Advance Practice Providers (including Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants; n = 24, 24.2%); nurses (n = 23, 23.2%), social workers (n = 14, 14.1%), physicians (n = 13, 13.1%), and "other" HCPs (including occupational therapists, physical therapists, and psychologists; n = 20, 20.2%). The HCPs participated in a one-day geriatric communication skills training program in groups of 12-15 over a 2-year period. Participants complete pre-post surveys on m...
Source: Palliative and Supportive Care - Category: Palliative Care Authors: Tags: Palliat Support Care Source Type: research