Clinical trial · Interventional
Randomized Controlled Trial Assessing the Efficacy of a Communication Skills Training Program
Communication About Uncertainty and Hope: A Randomized Controlled Trial Assessing the Efficacy of a Communication Skills Training Program for Physicians Caring for Cancer Patients
- Source
- ClinicalTrials.gov
- Retrieved
- Sep 8, 2026
- Layer
- normalized (units and labels harmonized; values unchanged)
- Run
- ING-CLINICALTRIALS-20260908-000001
Summary
Brief summary (as posted)
Background: Although previous studies have reported the efficacy of communication skills training programs (CST), specific training addressing communication about uncertainty and hope in oncology has not yet been studied. This paper describes the study protocol of a randomized controlled trial assessing the efficacy of a CST program aimed at improving physician ability to communicate about uncertainty and hope in encounters with cancer patients. Methods: Physician participants will be randomly assigned in groups (n = 3/group) to a 30-hour CST program (experimental group) or to a waiting list (control group). The training program will include learner-centered, skills-focused, practice-oriented techniques. Training efficacy is assessed in the context of an encounter with a simulated advanced stage cancer patient at baseline and after the CST for the experimental group, and after four months for the waiting-list group. Efficacy assessments will include communicational, psychological and physiological measures. Group-by-time effects will be analyzed using a generalized estimating equation (GEE). A power analysis indicated that a sample size of 60 (30 experimental and 30 control) participants will be sufficient to detect effects. Discussion: The current study will aid in the development of effective CST programs to improve physician ability to communicate about uncertainty and hope in encounters with cancer patients.
Conditions
Conditions (1)
Free-text conditions as registered, with the CancerIndex entity they were reconciled to and the match type.
| Condition (as posted) | Mapped entity | Match | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physician Patient Relationship | — | UNRESOLVED | — |
Interventions
Interventions (1)
| Intervention | Type | Mapped drug | Match |
|---|---|---|---|
| Communication skills training | Behavioral | — | UNRESOLVED |
Design
Arms and outcomes
Arms (2)
- type
- EXPERIMENTAL
- label
- Experimental group
- description
- This group of 30 physicians will immediately attend the intervention communication skills training program (experimental group).For this experimental group, the first assessment will take place before the first training session and the second recording after the last session. This assessment involves the analyses of communicational, physiological and psychological variables recorded in the context of an encounter with a simulated advanced stage cancer patient.
- interventionNames
- Behavioral: Communication skills training
- type
- NO_INTERVENTION
- label
- Waiting-list group
- description
- This group of 30 physicians will attend the intervention communication skills training in a delayed manner (control group). For this control group, the first and the second recording will take place with a four-month interval. This assessment involves the analyses of communicational, physiological and psychological variables recorded in the context of an encounter with a simulated advanced stage cancer patient.
Primary outcomes (1)
Eligibility
Eligibility (as posted)
- Sex
- All
- Minimum age
- 18 Years
- Maximum age
- 85 Years
Show eligibility criteria text
Inclusion criteria: * to speak French * to be willing to participate in the research program * to be oncologist, other specialist, or resident with at least one year of experience working with cancer patients (part-time or full-time). * to provide written informed consent.
References
Publications (22)
- BACKGROUNDBragard I, Etienne AM, Merckaert I, Libert Y, Razavi D. Efficacy of a communication and stress management training on medical residents' self-efficacy, stress to communicate and burnout: a randomized controlled study. J Health Psychol. 2010 Oct;15(7):1075-81. doi: 10.1177/1359105310361992. Epub 2010 May 7. PMID 20453053
- BACKGROUNDBragard I, Etienne AM, Libert Y, Merckaert I, Lienard A, Meunier J, Delvaux N, Hansez I, Marchal S, Reynaert C, Slachmuylder JL, Razavi D. Predictors and correlates of burnout in residents working with cancer patients. J Cancer Educ. 2010 Mar;25(1):120-6. doi: 10.1007/s13187-010-0050-9. Epub 2010 Feb 26. PMID 20186520
- BACKGROUNDBragard I, Razavi D, Marchal S, Merckaert I, Delvaux N, Libert Y, Reynaert C, Boniver J, Klastersky J, Scalliet P, Etienne AM. Teaching communication and stress management skills to junior physicians dealing with cancer patients: a Belgian Interuniversity Curriculum. Support Care Cancer. 2006 May;14(5):454-61. doi: 10.1007/s00520-005-0008-3. Epub 2006 Jan 18. PMID 16418828
- BACKGROUNDBragard I, Libert Y, Etienne AM, Merckaert I, Delvaux N, Marchal S, Boniver J, Klastersky J, Reynaert C, Scalliet P, Slachmuylder JL, Razavi D. Insight on variables leading to burnout in cancer physicians. J Cancer Educ. 2010 Mar;25(1):109-15. doi: 10.1007/s13187-009-0026-9. PMID 20082173
- BACKGROUNDDelvaux N, Merckaert I, Marchal S, Libert Y, Conradt S, Boniver J, Etienne AM, Fontaine O, Janne P, Klastersky J, Melot C, Reynaert C, Scalliet P, Slachmuylder JL, Razavi D. Physicians' communication with a cancer patient and a relative: a randomized study assessing the efficacy of consolidation workshops. Cancer. 2005 Jun 1;103(11):2397-411. doi: 10.1002/cncr.21093. PMID 15858816
- BACKGROUNDGibon AS, Merckaert I, Lienard A, Libert Y, Delvaux N, Marchal S, Etienne AM, Reynaert C, Slachmuylder JL, Scalliet P, Van Houtte P, Coucke P, Salamon E, Razavi D. Is it possible to improve radiotherapy team members' communication skills? A randomized study assessing the efficacy of a 38-h communication skills training program. Radiother Oncol. 2013 Oct;109(1):170-7. doi: 10.1016/j.radonc.2013.08.019. Epub 2013 Sep 7.