Feasibility and Acceptability of an Online Oncologist Training to Optimize Oncologist-Patient Communication and...

This pilot study tested the feasibility and acceptability of a low-resource-intensive scalable online communication training designed to improve oncologists' skills in prognostic and value-concordant care discussions with advanced cancer patients. The training consisted of on-demand videos on how to convey prognostic information, manage patient emotions, and elicit patient values and incorporate these values into treatment decision making. Post-intervention, oncologists reported on their perceptions of the training. Fifteen oncologists were enrolled, of whom, 13 completed the training, and 14 completed post-intervention interviews. Most oncologists reported the intervention was acceptable: 92.9% indicated the intervention was "moderately" to "very helpful"; 78.6% rated it as "somewhat" to "very much" impactful on their communication with patients. The present self-paced online communication training was acceptable to oncologists, supporting additional research, including evaluating intervention efficacy for improving oncologists' communication skills and value-concordant care in advanced cancer.