Empathic communication skills training to reduce lung cancer stigma: Study protocol of a cluster randomized control trial Journal Article
| Authors: | Banerjee, S. C.; Malling, C. D.; Schofield, E. A.; Carter-Bawa, L.; Bylund, C. L.; Hamann, H. A.; Parker, P. A.; Shen, M. J.; Studts, J. L.; Williamson, T. J.; Ostroff, J. S. |
| Article Title: | Empathic communication skills training to reduce lung cancer stigma: Study protocol of a cluster randomized control trial |
| Abstract: | Background: Prior research demonstrates that nearly all (95 %) people with lung cancer (PwLC) report stigma, and approximately half (48 %) PwLC experience stigma during clinical encounters with oncology care providers (OCPs). When stigma is experienced in a medical context, it can have undesirable consequences including patients' delaying and underreporting of symptoms, misreporting of smoking behavior, and avoiding help-seeking such as psychosocial support and cessation counseling. Multi-level interventions are needed to prevent and mitigate lung cancer stigma. One promising intervention for reducing patient perception and experience of stigma is to train OCPs in responding empathically to patient emotions and promoting empathic communication within clinical encounters. Methods: This paper describes the study protocol for a cluster randomized trial comparing Usual Care (waitlist control group) with Empathic Communication Skills (ECS) training (intervention group). For this study, we will recruit 16 community oncology practice sites, 9–11 OCPs per site, and 6 PwLCs per OCP. Results: The goal of this trial is to investigate the effect of the ECS training on (a) OCP primary outcomes (communication and empathic skill uptake) and secondary outcomes (ECS training appraisal – relevance, novelty, clarity; self-efficacy, attitude towards communication with patients); and (b) patient-reported primary outcomes (lung cancer stigma), and secondary outcomes (perceived clinician empathy, satisfaction with OCP communication, psychological distress, social isolation, and appraisal of care). Conclusion: Findings from this trial will advance understanding of the effectiveness of the ECS training intervention and inform future provider-level training interventions that may reduce lung cancer stigma and improve cancer care delivery. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05456841 © 2024 |
| Keywords: | controlled study; treatment outcome; patient satisfaction; outcome assessment; randomized controlled trial; lung neoplasms; psychology; lung cancer; patient assessment; chronic disease; lung tumor; communication; empathy; physician-patient relations; psycho-oncology; distress syndrome; psychosocial care; physician; communication skills training; communication skill; staff training; self concept; interpersonal communication; feedback system; therapy; social isolation; stigma; emotional stress; community care; protocol; nurse practitioner; physician assistant; empathic communication; conceptual model; social stigma; humans; human; female; article; eligibility criteria; lung cancer stigma; professional burnout; doctor patient relationship; current smoker; ex-smoker; depersonalization; emotional exhaustion; self compassion; oncology care providers; maslach burnout inventory; cluster randomized controlled trial; appraisal (mental function); net promoter score |
| Journal Title: | Contemporary Clinical Trials |
| Volume: | 145 |
| ISSN: | 1551-7144 |
| Publisher: | Elsevier Inc. |
| Date Published: | 2024-10-01 |
| Start Page: | 107669 |
| Language: | English |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.cct.2024.107669 |
| PUBMED: | 39182827 |
| PROVIDER: | scopus |
| PMCID: | PMC11407099 |
| DOI/URL: | |
| Notes: | Article -- MSK Cancer Center Support Grant (P30 CA008748) acknowledged in PubMed and PDF -- MSK corresponding author is Smita Banerjee -- Source: Scopus |
Altmetric
Citation Impact
BMJ Impact Analytics
Related MSK Work