Empathic Listening and Communication Competencies Among Oncology Healthcare Professionals in Croatia: A...

Introduction/Objectives: Patient-centered communication is essential in oncology care, where healthcare professionals often manage emotionally demanding conversations, uncertainty, complex decisions, and patient involvement in care. However, the relationship between communication knowledge, empathic listening, and practical communication skills remains insufficiently examined. This study aimed to examine the associations between communication knowledge, empathic listening, and interpersonal communication skills among healthcare professionals involved in oncology care. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Croatia from May to November 2025 on a convenience sample of 138 healthcare professionals involved in oncology care. Communication knowledge was assessed using a study-specific questionnaire, empathic listening using an adapted Active Empathic Listening Scale, and interpersonal communication skills using an adapted Interpersonal Communication Skills Inventory. Because the instruments were adapted to the oncology care context, their dimensions were examined using exploratory factor analysis and interpreted as sample-specific exploratory constructs. Descriptive statistics, correlation analyses, and multiple linear regression analyses were performed. Results: Clear message delivery and assertiveness had the highest self-reported score, whereas emotional interaction management had the lowest. Communication knowledge was not an independent predictor of communication skills dimensions. Processing and responding positively predicted clear message delivery and assertiveness (β = 0.361; p = 0.001; R² = 13.4%), while noticing emotional and nonverbal cues negatively predicted emotional interaction management (β = -0.234; p = 0.032; R² = 7.6%). The explained variance of the models was low. Conclusions: The findings suggest limited but potentially relevant associations between selected dimensions of empathic listening and self-reported communication skills in oncology care. Communication knowledge, measured using a study-specific exploratory instrument, was not independently associated with communication skills. Because of the exploratory design, self-report measures, adapted instruments, and convenience sampling, the results should be interpreted with caution.