Improving Doctor-Patient Communication Skills in Radiation Oncology

First, we hope to raise awareness of the current gaps in knowledge on effective communication strategies important to patient care within radiation oncology. No structured curriculum currently exists in radiation oncology to address this educational need. Second, we aim to describe an overview of a strategic, skill-based, communication framework that has been tested and validated in oncology and is currently being used to teach fellows, residents, oncologists, and nononcologists in a variety of medical specialties how to break bad news, empathically discuss transitions in care, and skillfully navigate other challenging patient encounters particularly those that occur in the setting of serious illness. Studies have linked empathy and empathic communication to greater patient satisfaction, better outcomes, decreased physician burnout, and lower risk of malpractice suits and errors. In oncology, navigating care transitions can prevent patients from embarking on futile treatments which are unlikely to yield benefit yet more likely to cause harm. Finally, we will spend the remaining session time teaching three specific skillsets taught in ONCOTALK, namely describing and giving examples of NURSE statements (Naming, Understanding, Respect, Support, Empathy), and understanding the SPIKES (Setting, Perception, Invitation, Knowledge, Emotion/Empathy, Summary/Strategy), and REMAP (Reframe, Expect emotion, Map the future, Align with values, Plan for the future) roadmaps for breaking bad news and planning for the future. Learning to acknowledge patient emotion before moving on to presenting cognitive, medical data to patients is a critical piece of the communication workflow.

Target Audience

This program is designed to meet the interest of radiation oncologists, medical oncologists, nurses, surgeons, radiation therapists and radiation oncology residents.

Learning Objectives

  • Describe the critical importance of mastering effective communication skills in order to optimally support radiation oncology patients at critical transition points in their illness.
  • Describe the communication skillset framework taught in ONCOTALK.
  • Apply 3 specific communication skill sets (SPIKES, REMAP, NURSE) during patient encounters at a beginner level.
Course summary
Available credit: 
  • 1.25 Certificate of Attendance
    This activity was designated for 1.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™.
  • 1.25 SA-CME

    The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) is accredited by the Accreditation Council of Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

    The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) designates this Enduring material for a maximum of 1.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

    This activity meets the American Board of Radiology's criteria for a self-assessment activity in the ABR's Maintenance of Certification program. Participation in this course in combination with the successful completion of the corresponding assessment and course evaluation adheres to the guidelines established by the ABR for 1.25 self-assessment credits.

Course opens: 
02/07/2017
Course expires: 
02/06/2020
Cost:
$105.00
Rating: 
0
  • Kavita Dharmarajan, MD, MS has no financial relationships with a commercial interest.
  • James Tulsky, MD, is employed Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and receives compensation from Recap Information Systems and holds a leadership position with VitalTalk.

The person(s) above served as the developer(s) of this activity. Additionally, the Education and CME/MOC Committees had control over the content of this activity.

 
Disclosure link: 
Committee Disclosure

The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) is accredited by the Accreditation Council of Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing education to physicians.

ASTRO is awarded Deemed Status by the American Board of Radiology to provide SA-CME as part of Part II Maintenance of Certification. 

 

Available Credit

  • 1.25 Certificate of Attendance
    This activity was designated for 1.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™.
  • 1.25 SA-CME

    The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) is accredited by the Accreditation Council of Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

    The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) designates this Enduring material for a maximum of 1.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

    This activity meets the American Board of Radiology's criteria for a self-assessment activity in the ABR's Maintenance of Certification program. Participation in this course in combination with the successful completion of the corresponding assessment and course evaluation adheres to the guidelines established by the ABR for 1.25 self-assessment credits.

Price

Cost:
$105.00
Please login or register to take this course.

Course Fees:
ASTRO members must log in to the ASTRO website to view and receive the discounted member rate.

  • Nonmember: $105
  • Member: $55

Policies:
No refunds, extensions, or substitutions will be made for those participants who, for any reason, have not completed the course by the end of the qualification date. The qualification date for each course is listed in the course catalog on the ASTRO website under availability.

Participants using ASTRO's online courses to satisfy the requirement of a Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program should verify the number, type and availability dates of any course before making a purchase. No refunds, extensions, or substitutions will be made for participants who have purchased courses that do not align with their MOC requirement.

The course and its materials will only be available on the ASTRO website for that 3 year period regardless of purchase date. At the expiration of the qualification, participants will no longer have access to the course or its materials. ASTRO reserves the right to remove a course before the end of its qualification period.

 

 

Required Hardware/software

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