Communication During Medical Consultations in Singapore -Pilot

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Communication Research
• Interventions: Behavioral: Communication Training Program and Patient Prompt Sheet

• Registration Number: NCT03671382
• Lead Sponsor: Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School

Brief Summary

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.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2018-07-31
• Study First Submitted: 2018-09-02
• Study First Submitted QC: 2018-09-13
• Study First Posted: 2018-09-14
• Status Verified: 2019-02
• Primary Completion: 2019-02-01
• Study Completion: 2019-02-01
• Last Update Submitted: 2019-02-06
• Last Update Posted: 2019-02-08

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 104

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.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Intervention Arm	Communication Training Program and Patient Prompt Sheet	Communication Training Program and Patient Prompt Sheet

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Assess feasibility and acceptability of intervention	up to 3 months	Measured by proportion of intervention arm oncologists completing their intervention

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Assess increase in number of empathic statements by oncologists	within 5 months	Measured by coding audio-recorded consultations post-intervention
Assess increase in number of questions related to their prognosis asked by patients	within 5 months	Measured by coding audio-recorded consultations post-intervention

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

National Cancer Centre Singapore; 🇸🇬 Singapore, Singapore