Adaptation of a Serious Illness Communication Training Intervention for the Rwandan Context

Area of Science:

• Global Health
• Oncology
• Medical Education

Background:

• Effective communication is vital in cancer care, with international guidelines advocating for provider training.
• Cultural factors significantly influence both clinical communication practices and training methodologies.
• Adapting evidence-based communication training is crucial as oncology and palliative care services expand globally.

Purpose of the Study:

• To adapt a serious illness communication training intervention for the Rwandan context.

Main Methods:

• Focus groups were used to identify communication training needs and gather feedback on the U.S. Serious Illness Conversation Guide (SICG).
• The training was adapted based on identified needs, incorporating elements from the VitalTalk program.
• A pilot training was conducted with clinical psychologists, utilizing lectures, demonstrations, role-play, and discussions, with effectiveness assessed via rating scales and qualitative feedback.

Main Results:

• Oncology providers emphasized the need for further communication training and supported adapting international programs.
• The adapted training focused on three core skills: setting up conversations, assessing understanding, sharing information concisely, and responding to emotions.
• The training methods received high effectiveness ratings (mean scores of 4.0-4.33), with suggestions for further cultural adaptation.

Conclusions:

• Evidence-based communication training interventions developed in the U.S. can be successfully adapted for African settings.
• Co-creation with local healthcare providers is key to ensuring cultural concordance and effectiveness in diverse contexts.