Communication During Medical Consultations in Singapore -Pilot (TEAMS-pilot)

Duke University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Communication Research

Treatments: Behavioral: Communication Training Program and Patient Prompt Sheet

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03671382

LCPC-IN

Details and patient eligibility

About

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.

Enrollment: 104 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 21+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

The inclusion criteria for oncologists are

1. All consultants and senior residents/registrars in the Departments of Medical Oncology at National Cancer Centre, Singapore
2. Able to allow audio-recording during consultation

The inclusion criteria for patients are

1. Age ≥ 21 years old
2. Patients who are consulting an oncologist who is participating in the study
3. Patients who are Singaporeans or Singapore Permanent Residents
4. Diagnosis of stage IV cancer (with metastasis to visceral organs)
5. Able to allow audio-recording during consultation

Exclusion criteria

The exclusion criteria for oncologists are

a. Rejecting audio-recording during consultation

The exclusion criteria for patients are

1. Age ≤ 21 years old
2. Patients who are not Singaporeans or Singapore Permanent Residents
3. Rejecting audio-recording during consultation
4. Patients with psychiatric or cognitive disorder.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Health Services Research

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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104 participants in 2 patient groups

Intervention Arm

Experimental group

Description:

Communication Training Program and Patient Prompt Sheet

Treatment:

Behavioral: Communication Training Program and Patient Prompt Sheet

Control Arm

No Intervention group

Description:

Oncologists will not receive the communication skills training program and their patients will not receive the Patient Prompt Sheet