Training Model to Advance Support of the Family as a Caregiving System in the Inpatient Oncology Setting

Training Model to Advance Support of the Family as a Caregiving System in the Inpatient Oncology Setting

The purpose of this study is to provide a communication training program to inpatient nurses and social workers at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in order to help them assist caregiving families. The importance of this training program is that it aims to teach nurses and social workers how and when to respond more effectively and compassionately to challenges faced by caregiving families. One of the goals of this program is to address family support needs during a patient's hospitalization.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Participating Providers:
• Provider is an MSKCC acute care advanced practice nurse and/or inpatient social worker as per self-report.
• Plans to attend at least 4/6 the didactic training sessions, and 3/6 consolidation sessions as per self-report.

A patient will be approached if:

• Patient has been admitted to an inpatient service at MSKCC.
• Patient is able to designate at least one close person who is involved in the patient's care and is willing to participate. In the case that the patient is a minor (age 7-17 yrs), s/he will need to designate at least one close, adult person who is involved in the patient's care and is willing to participate.

Family members will be approached if:

• They were identified as a close other (including a family friend) involved in the care of an admitted patient on a participating provider's floor

Exclusion Criteria:

• Evidence of cognitive impairment severe enough to preclude completing survey instruments as per clinical or research staff judgment or EMR.
• Determined to not be appropriate for this study as per clinical judgment. Anyone, patient or family member, who is younger than 12 years old.
• Anyone, patient or family member, who does not speak English.