The effect of communication skills training on patient outcomes in cancer care: a systematic review of the literature
R.J. UITTERHOEVE
rn, phd,
J.M. BENSING
phd, professor,
R.P. GROL
phd, professor,
P.H.M. DEMULDER deceased), phd, md, professor,
T. VAN ACHTERBERG
rn, phd, professor,
Corresponding Author
R.J. UITTERHOEVE rn, phd
Scientific Institute for Quality of Healthcare, IQ Healthcare 114, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, PO Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen
Ruud J. Uitterhoeve, Scientific Institute for Quality of Healthcare, IQ Healthcare 114, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, PO Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands (e-mail: [email protected]). Search for more papers by this authorJ.M. BENSING phd, professor
Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research, Research Institute for Psychology and Health, Utrecht
Search for more papers by this authorR.P. GROL phd, professor
Scientific Institute for Quality of Healthcare, IQ Healthcare 114, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
Search for more papers by this authorP.H.M. DEMULDER deceased), phd, md, professor
Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Department of Medical Oncology, Nijmegen
Search for more papers by this authorT. VAN ACHTERBERG rn, phd, professor
Scientific Institute for Quality of Healthcare, IQ Healthcare 114, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
Search for more papers by this authorR.J. UITTERHOEVE
rn, phd,
J.M. BENSING
phd, professor,
R.P. GROL
phd, professor,
P.H.M. DEMULDER deceased), phd, md, professor,
T. VAN ACHTERBERG
rn, phd, professor,
Corresponding Author
R.J. UITTERHOEVE rn, phd
Scientific Institute for Quality of Healthcare, IQ Healthcare 114, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, PO Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen
Ruud J. Uitterhoeve, Scientific Institute for Quality of Healthcare, IQ Healthcare 114, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, PO Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands (e-mail: [email protected]). Search for more papers by this authorJ.M. BENSING phd, professor
Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research, Research Institute for Psychology and Health, Utrecht
Search for more papers by this authorR.P. GROL phd, professor
Scientific Institute for Quality of Healthcare, IQ Healthcare 114, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
Search for more papers by this authorP.H.M. DEMULDER deceased), phd, md, professor
Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Department of Medical Oncology, Nijmegen
Search for more papers by this authorT. VAN ACHTERBERG rn, phd, professor
Scientific Institute for Quality of Healthcare, IQ Healthcare 114, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
UITTERHOEVE R.J., BENSING J.M., GROL R.P., DEMULDER P.H.M. (deceased) & VAN ACHTERBERG T. (2010) European Journal of Cancer CareThe effect of communication skills training on patient outcomes in cancer care: a systematic review of the literature
The objective of this review was to determine whether communication training for healthcare professionals (HCP), including nurses and medical doctors, in cancer care improves patient outcomes. Eligible studies with a focus on patient outcomes and a controlled or single group pretest–posttest design were identified according to Cochrane Collaboration Guidelines. Seven studies, encompassing 10 papers and involving five randomised controlled trials, were included. Studies involved 411 HCP, including a total of 1677 encounters with adult cancer patients. Forty-nine papers were excluded, primarily because no patient outcomes were reported. Regarding patient satisfaction outcomes, estimated effects in favour of communication training ranged from 0.07 (95% CI: −0.30 to 0.44) for satisfaction with information and support to 0.70 (95% CI: 0.16 to 1.24) for satisfaction with assessment of concerns. No evidence was found for the effectiveness of communication training on patient distress outcomes. We concluded that the current review reveals inconclusive evidence to prove the effectiveness of communication training on patient satisfaction and patient distress. More high-quality studies are needed.
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