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Discussing Serious News Remotely: Navigating Difficult Conversations During a Pandemic
Ryan G Holstead1, Andrew G Robinson1
1Cancer Center of Southeastern Ontario, Department of Oncology, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
JCO Oncology Practice
|May 19, 2020
Summary
Telemedicine is increasingly used for cancer care discussions. The SPIKES protocol offers a framework for delivering serious news remotely, addressing challenges like lost nonverbal cues to maintain high-quality patient communication.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Medical Communication
- Telehealth
Background:
- The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of telemedicine for clinical encounters.
- Delivering serious news in cancer care traditionally benefits from in-person interaction.
- Telemedicine presents unique challenges for sensitive patient-provider communication.
Purpose of the Study:
- To adapt the SPIKES protocol for discussing serious news via telemedicine in oncology.
- To outline strategies for effective remote communication in cancer care.
- To address the limitations and advantages of telemedicine for delivering bad news.
Main Methods:
- Review of the SPIKES (Setting, Perception, Invitation, Knowledge, Empathy/Emotion, Strategy/Summarize) protocol.
- Discussion of practical and technical aspects of remote serious news delivery.
- Analysis of differences, limitations, and advantages of telemedicine communication.
Main Results:
- The primary challenge in telemedicine is the absence of nonverbal cues.
- Effective communication strategies and patient engagement can foster empathy remotely.
- Telemedicine delivery of serious news requires careful planning and execution.
Conclusions:
- Using the SPIKES protocol can facilitate effective remote delivery of serious news in cancer care.
- Maintaining high standards of care during telemedicine consultations is achievable.
- Telemedicine communication strategies are essential for oncologists in the current healthcare landscape.
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