Enhancing communication between oncologists and patients with a computer-based training program: a randomized trial.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Quality cancer care requires addressing patients' emotions, which oncologists infrequently do. Multiday courses can teach oncologists skills to handle emotion; however, such workshops are long and costly.

Objective

To test whether a brief, computerized intervention improves oncologist responses to patient expressions of negative emotion.

Design

Randomized, controlled, parallel-group trial stratified by site, sex, and oncologic specialty. Oncologists were randomly assigned to receive a communication lecture or the lecture plus a tailored CD-ROM. (ClinicalTrials.gov registration number: NCT00276627)

Setting

Oncology clinics at a comprehensive cancer center and Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina, and a comprehensive cancer center

SUBMITTER: Tulsky JA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3368370 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature