Communication During Medical Consultations in Singapore -Pilot

NCT ID: NCT03671382

Last Updated: 2019-02-08

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 104 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2018-07-31
• Study Completion Date: 2019-02-01

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.

Conditions

Communication Research

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

Intervention Arm

Communication Training Program and Patient Prompt Sheet

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Communication Training Program and Patient Prompt Sheet

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

The intervention being delivered is a two-component intervent. First component is the Oncologist Communication Skills Training Program. This is an e-learning module teaching oncologists to recognize and respond to patient/caregiver distress, provide information including prognosis and discuss goals of care. The second component is a patient prompt sheet which will be administered to three patients of intervention arm oncologists in the waiting area at least 30 minutes before their consultation. The sheet includes structured questions for patients to ask the oncologist about diagnosis and prognosis and will prompt patients to label and express their emotions in a direct manner.

Control Arm

Oncologists will not receive the communication skills training program and their patients will not receive the Patient Prompt Sheet

Group Type: NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

Communication Training Program and Patient Prompt Sheet

The intervention being delivered is a two-component intervent. First component is the Oncologist Communication Skills Training Program. This is an e-learning module teaching oncologists to recognize and respond to patient/caregiver distress, provide information including prognosis and discuss goals of care. The second component is a patient prompt sheet which will be administered to three patients of intervention arm oncologists in the waiting area at least 30 minutes before their consultation. The sheet includes structured questions for patients to ask the oncologist about diagnosis and prognosis and will prompt patients to label and express their emotions in a direct manner.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

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

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

a. Rejecting audio-recording during consultation

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.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 21 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Chetna Malhotra

Assistant Professor

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Chetna Malhotra, MD, MPH

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School

Locations

National Cancer Centre Singapore

Singapore, , Singapore

Countries

Singapore

Other Identifiers

LCPC-IN

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id