Delivering online communication skills training for radiation therapists

The aim of this project was to determine whether online communication skills training (CST) could be successfully delivered to radiation therapists (RTs) across Australia by adapting RT Prepare CST. RTs' perspectives on the workshop were evaluated as well as determining changes in their confidence in their skills, perspectives on their communication skills "effectiveness" and perspectives about barriers to communicating effectively with people with cancer after the workshop.

Nine online CST workshops based on the original RT Prepare were run for 52 RTs (4-8 in each workshop) working in: Illawarra Shoalhaven, New South Wales; Newcastle, New South Wales; and Hobart, Tasmania. Two facilitators delivered the workshops and all RTs participated in role plays with trained actors. RTs completed baseline surveys and workshop evaluations. Descriptive statistics (pre-post matched) and content analysis were used to analyse data.

Forty-seven RTs completed pre-workshop surveys and forty-four of these completed post-workshop surveys. Workshop evaluations indicated participants were satisfied with the workshop. Individual RT confidence in communication techniques and skills were significantly improved after the workshop. RTs' confidence in providing patient emotional care significantly improved after the workshop. RTs highlighted the key skills attained in relation to responding to patient emotions of anxiety, depression, distress and anger. RTs awareness of some sources of support in the treatment environment when providing emotional care to patients was improved after the workshop.

Online delivery of RT Prepare CST provides a practical, scalable approach to strengthening RTs' capacity to prepare and support people with cancer before treatment.