Training Health Care Practitioners to Effectively Communicate With Older Adults With Cancer and Their Caregivers

Providing medical care to older adults with cancer is complex. In addition to their cancer diagnosis, many older adults have various factors such as frailty, comorbidities, cognitive decline, sensory and functional issues, and polypharmacy that increase the complexity of their medical care. However, few health care practitioners (HCPs) receive adequate training in geriatric principles or in effective communication with older adults with cancer and their caregivers.

To meet this significant and growing need, we developed and conducted an evidence-based educational training program in geriatric oncology, Geriatric Oncology: Cognition and Communication (Geri Onc CC). The goal of this study was to examine its efficacy in terms of participants' ratings of the program, self-efficacy, knowledge, and attitudes, as well as skill uptake of general and geriatric-specific communication skills. Participants completed questionnaires and standardized patient and caregiver assessments before and after their participation.

Two hundred eighty-two HCPs representing more than eight disciplines, working in varied types of health care settings and locations, participated in the 2-day in-person or virtual training program. Participants rated the program as having high value and reported high satisfaction. After participating in the program, they demonstrated increased knowledge (P < .001), greater self-efficacy (P < .001), and significant increase in communication skills use from pre- to post-training in five skill categories (agenda setting, checking, questioning, information organization, and empathy) as well as geriatric-specific skills (all P values < .001).

The Geri Onc CC Training Program improved participants' knowledge and skills. This program fills an important gap in HCPs' education for this population.