Communication about standard treatment options and clinical trials: can we teach doctors new skills to improve patient outcomes?

Bernhard, Jürg; Butow, Phyllis; Aldridge, Julie; Juraskova, Ilona; Ribi, Karin; Brown, Richard (2012). Communication about standard treatment options and clinical trials: can we teach doctors new skills to improve patient outcomes? Psycho-oncology, 21(12), pp. 1265-1274. Malden, Mass.: Wiley-Blackwell 10.1002/pon.2044

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BACKGROUND:
The International Breast Cancer Study Group conducted a phase III trial in Australian/New Zealand (ANZ) and Swiss/German/Austrian (SGA) centres on training doctors in clear and ethical information delivery about treatment options and strategies to encourage shared decision making.

METHODS:
Medical, surgical, gynaecological and radiation oncologists, and their patients for whom adjuvant breast cancer therapy was indicated, were eligible. Doctors were randomised to participate in a workshop with standardised teaching material and role playing. Patients were recruited in the experimental and control groups before and after the workshop.

RESULTS:
In ANZ centres, 21 eligible doctors recruited a total of 304 assessable patients. In SGA centres, 41 doctors recruited 390 patients. The training was well accepted. There was no overall effect on patient decisional conflict (primary endpoint) 2 weeks after the consultation. Overall, patients were satisfied with their treatment decision, their consultation and their doctors' consultation skills. Considerable variation was observed in patient outcomes between SGA and ANZ centres; the effect sizes of the intervention were marginal (<0.2).

CONCLUSIONS:
Shared decision making remains a challenge. A sustained training effect may require more intensive training tailored to the local setting. Cross-cultural differences need attention in conducting trials on communication interventions.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Original Article)

Division/Institute:

04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of Haematology, Oncology, Infectious Diseases, Laboratory Medicine and Hospital Pharmacy (DOLS) > Clinic of Medical Oncology

UniBE Contributor:

Bernhard, Jürg Theodor

Subjects:

600 Technology > 610 Medicine & health

ISSN:

1057-9249

Publisher:

Wiley-Blackwell

Language:

English

Submitter:

Factscience Import

Date Deposited:

04 Oct 2013 14:21

Last Modified:

02 Mar 2023 23:20

Publisher DOI:

10.1002/pon.2044

PubMed ID:

23208837

Web of Science ID:

000311973600002

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/6892 (FactScience: 211947)

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