TY - JOUR

T1 - Invited commentary of Irma P.M. Kruijver, Ada Kerkstra, Jan J. Kerssens, Chantal C.M. Holtkamp, Jozien M. Bensing, Harry B.M. van de Wiel "Communication between nurses and simulated patients with cancer : evaluation of a communication training programme".

AU - Payne, Sheila

PY - 2001/9

Y1 - 2001/9

N2 - In this paper the effect of a communication training programme on the instrumental and affective communication skills employed by ward nurses during the admittance interview with recently diagnosed cancer patients was investigated. The training focused on teaching nurses skills to discuss and handle patient emotions. For this purpose, 46 nurses participated in 92 videotaped admittance interviews with simulated patients. The study had a randomized pre-test-post-test design. Multi-level analysis was used to measure the effects of the training. The results revealed that the trained nurses significantly increased asking open-ended psychosocial questions, which indicates that they were actively exploring patients' feelings. Furthermore, the patients showed a significant increase in affective communication. In conclusion, the results of this study demonstrate that, although limited, training can induce favourable changes in the communication skills of nurses, and can even affect patient communication. Future studies should focus on the further evaluation of educational programmes to enhance communication skills.

AB - In this paper the effect of a communication training programme on the instrumental and affective communication skills employed by ward nurses during the admittance interview with recently diagnosed cancer patients was investigated. The training focused on teaching nurses skills to discuss and handle patient emotions. For this purpose, 46 nurses participated in 92 videotaped admittance interviews with simulated patients. The study had a randomized pre-test-post-test design. Multi-level analysis was used to measure the effects of the training. The results revealed that the trained nurses significantly increased asking open-ended psychosocial questions, which indicates that they were actively exploring patients' feelings. Furthermore, the patients showed a significant increase in affective communication. In conclusion, the results of this study demonstrate that, although limited, training can induce favourable changes in the communication skills of nurses, and can even affect patient communication. Future studies should focus on the further evaluation of educational programmes to enhance communication skills.

KW - cancer

KW - nurse-simulated patient interaction

KW - communication training

KW - admission interview

KW - observation study

U2 - 10.1054/ejon.2001.0139

DO - 10.1054/ejon.2001.0139

M3 - Journal article

VL - 5

SP - 152

EP - 153

JO - European Journal of Oncology Nursing

JF - European Journal of Oncology Nursing

SN - 1462-3889

IS - 3

ER -