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Despite advanced cancer patients and their caregivers frequently experiencing psychological distress and wanting to know about their prognosis, oncologists rarely respond with empathy and provide adequate information regarding patient prognosis. We aim to address the communication gap during consultations by developing an Oncologist E-Learning Communications Skills Training Program guiding physicians on how to recognize and respond to patient/caregiver distress and to disclose prognosis; and a Patient Prompt Sheet to encourage discussions of psychological distress and prognosis. We will assess the feasibility of delivering this two-component intervention program within a cancer center in Singapore through a 2-arm randomized controlled trial in which 8 oncologists will be randomly assigned to Control Arm (n=4) and Intervention Arm (n=4). Oncologists in the intervention arm will receive the E-Learning Program. Their patients will also receive the Patient Prompt Sheet before their consultation with oncologist. After completion of oncologist intervention we will audio-record and survey 3 patients with Stage IV cancer and their caregivers per oncologist before and after their consultations. If the study is shown to be feasible and acceptable, then its effectiveness will be assessed in a larger trial.
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| Label | Type | Description | Intervention Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intervention Arm | Experimental | Communication Training Program and Patient Prompt Sheet |
|
| Control Arm | No Intervention | Oncologists will not receive the communication skills training program and their patients will not receive the Patient Prompt Sheet |
| Name | Type | Description | Arm Group Labels | Other Names |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Communication Training Program and Patient Prompt Sheet | Behavioral | The intervention being delivered is a two-component intervent. First component is the Oncologist Communication Skills Training Program. This is an e-learning module teaching oncologists to recognize and respond to patient/caregiver distress, provide information including prognosis and discuss goals of care. The second component is a patient prompt sheet which will be administered to three patients of intervention arm oncologists in the waiting area at least 30 minutes before their consultation. The sheet includes structured questions for patients to ask the oncologist about diagnosis and prognosis and will prompt patients to label and express their emotions in a direct manner. |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Assess feasibility and acceptability of intervention | Measured by proportion of intervention arm oncologists completing their intervention | up to 3 months |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Assess increase in number of empathic statements by oncologists | Measured by coding audio-recorded consultations post-intervention | within 5 months |
| Assess increase in number of questions related to their prognosis asked by patients |
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Inclusion Criteria:
The inclusion criteria for oncologists are
The inclusion criteria for patients are
Exclusion Criteria:
The exclusion criteria for oncologists are
a. Rejecting audio-recording during consultation
The exclusion criteria for patients are
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| Name | Affiliation | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Chetna Malhotra, MD, MPH | Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School | Principal Investigator |
| Facility | Status | City | State | ZIP | Country | Contacts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| National Cancer Centre Singapore | Singapore | 169610 | Singapore |
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| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D009369 | Neoplasms |
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|
Measured by coding audio-recorded consultations post-intervention
| within 5 months |