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Current Concepts of Communication Skills Training in Oncology

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Communication in Cancer Care

Part of the book series: Recent Results in Cancer Research ((RECENTCANCER,volume 168))

Summary

Too many patients leave their consultations with insufficient understanding about their diagnosis, prognosis, the need for further diagnostic tests, the management plans, or the therapeutic intent of treatment. This situation is not entirely due to paternalism or a lack of awareness that patients worldwide desire more information, but rather a reflection of the dismal communication skills training that most healthcare professionals receive. There have been many developments aimed at rectifying this situation, but there are still too few publications available demonstrating efficacy. Nevertheless, evidence shows that communication skills can be taught and that if taught well then the impact endures into the clinic. This chapter looks at some of the history of good evidence- based interventions to improve communication and makes a plea for more research-based evidence for improved patient outcomes following training. Unless attention and resources are given to help healthcare professionals in this core clinical skill then we will never be able to help patients and their families take an informed and educated role in their own cancer care.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cancer Research UK, Psychosocial Oncology Group, Brighton & Sussex Medical School, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 9QG, UK

    L. Fallowfield MD (Prof.) & V. Jenkins

Authors
  1. L. Fallowfield MD
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  2. V. Jenkins
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Médecin Chef de Service, Service de Psychiatrie de Liaison, CHUV, Rue du Bugnon 44, 1011, Lausanne, Switzerland

    Friedrich Stiefel MD

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© 2006 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Fallowfield, L., Jenkins, V. (2006). Current Concepts of Communication Skills Training in Oncology. In: Stiefel, F. (eds) Communication in Cancer Care. Recent Results in Cancer Research, vol 168. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg . https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-30758-3_10

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-30758-3_10

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-30757-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-540-30758-7

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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