Enhancing patient participation by training radiation oncologists

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Medical Communication
• Patient-Centered Care

Background:

• Active patient participation enhances information processing and quality of life.
• Cancer patients often exhibit passive behavior during consultations with oncologists.
• Enhancing patient engagement in radiation therapy consultations is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if specific communication behaviors of radiation oncologists (ROs) can improve cancer patient participation.
• To assess the impact of RO communication training on patient engagement.
• To analyze changes in patient interaction during radiation therapy consultations.

Main Methods:

• Eight ROs and 160 patients (80 pre-training, 80 post-training) participated.
• ROs received training focused on communication behaviors to encourage patient participation, especially in the initial minutes.
• Roter Interaction Analysis System (RIAS) measured and compared RO and patient communication before and after training.

Main Results:

• Patients in the post-training group demonstrated higher participation throughout the consultation.
• Post-training patients discussed more psychosocial issues and expressed more concerns.
• Patients in the post-training group contributed more to decision-making processes.

Conclusions:

• Training radiation oncologists in specific communication strategies can effectively increase cancer patient participation.
• Regular communication training and feedback are recommended for healthcare providers working with cancer patients.