General and unique communication skills challenges for advanced practice providers: A mixed-methods study Journal Article


Authors: Stein, D.; Cannity, K.; Weiner, R.; Hichenberg, S.; Leon-Nastasi, A.; Banerjee, S.; Parker, P.
Article Title: General and unique communication skills challenges for advanced practice providers: A mixed-methods study
Abstract: Aims: Advanced practice providers are a rapidly growing sector of the health-care field. Despite their relatively new place in the medical establishment, these providers are held to high standards of education, practice, and communication skills. However, the communication needs of these practitioners are somewhat different than those of nurses or physicians. These skills are even more necessary in specialized fields where providers frequently are involved in discussions of prognosis, goals of care, and end of life. Design: This was a mixed-methods study. Methods: We completed a needs assessment of communication skills for advanced practice providers at a large cancer center in the north-eastern United States from June to July 2017. Results: Participants were confident in their skills across several areas of communication, but also endorsed the need for communication skills training, particularly for challenging interactions with patients and families. Advanced practice providers described many challenges similar to those descried by other health-care providers, including general communication skills problems, navigating team dynamics, and goals-of-care planning. However, participants also endorsed communication skills needs specific to their field, including certain patient-centered challenges, perceived/real limitations of their role, serving as the "middleman," and understanding the advanced practice provider's role. Conclusion: Given the general and unique communication challenges advanced practice providers in oncology face, we conclude with recommendations for further institutional and educational changes to better address these needs.
Keywords: communication skills training; attitude of health personnel; professional-patient relations; needs assessment; professional role; confidence; new england; communication skills; human; multimethod studies; health personnel -- psychosocial factors; cancer care facilities -- new england
Journal Title: Journal of the Advanced Practitioner in Oncology
Volume: 13
Issue: 1
ISSN: 2150-0878
Publisher: Harborside Press  
Date Published: 2022-01-01
Start Page: 32
End Page: 43
Language: English
DOI: 10.6004/jadpro.2022.13.1.3
PROVIDER: EBSCOhost
PROVIDER: cinahl
PMCID: PMC8805804
PUBMED: 35173987
DOI/URL:
Notes: Accession Number: 154962585 -- Entry Date: 20220217 -- Revision Date: 20220218 -- Publication Type: Article; research; tables/charts -- Journal Subset: Biomedical; USA. -- Source: Cinahl
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  1. Smita Banerjee
    125 Banerjee
  2. Deborah E Stein
    4 Stein
  3. Richard Weiner
    3 Weiner
  4. Patricia Ann Parker
    91 Parker