Efficacy of a Cancer Research UK communication skills training model for oncologists: a randomised controlled trial

Fallowfield, Lesley; Jenkins, Valerie; Farewell, Vern; Saul, Jacky; Duffy, Anthony; Eves, Rebecca

doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(02)07810-8

Cited by 854Patient-Provider Communication in HealthcareInnovations in Medical EducationEmpathy and Medical Education

Efficacy of a Cancer Research UK communication skills training model for oncologists: a randomised controlled trial

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Fallowfield, Lesley, Jenkins, Valerie, Farewell, Vern, Saul, Jacky, Duffy, Anthony, Eves, Rebecca·2002·The Lancet

DOI 10.1016/s0140-6736(02)07810-8

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Abstract

Background Doctors' communication with patients is commonly hampered by lack of training in this core skill. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of an intensive 3-day training course on communication skills in a randomised controlled trial with a two-by-two factorial design and several outcomes.Methods 160 oncologists from 34 UK cancer centres were randomly allocated to four groups: written feedback followed by course; course alone; written feedback alone; and control. At each of two assessment periods, consultations with six to ten consecutive, consenting patients per doctor were videotaped. 2407 patients participated. Outcome measures included objective and subjective ratings made by researchers, doctors, and patients. The primary outcomes were objective improvements after the intervention in key communication skills. Course content included structured feedback, videotape review of consultations, role-play with simulated patients, interactive group demonstrations, and discussion led by a trained facilitator.Findings In Poisson regression analysis of counts of communication behaviours, course attendance significantly improved key outcomes. The estimated effect sizes corresponded to higher rates of use of focused questions (difference between course attenders [n=80] and non-attenders [n=80] 34%, p=0.003), focused and open questions (27%, p=0.005), expressions of empathy (69%, p=0.003), and appropriate responses to patients' cues (38%, p=0.026), and a 24% lower rate of use of leading questions (p=0.11). There was little evidence for the effectiveness of written feedback.Interpretation The communication problems of senior doctors working in cancer medicine are not resolved by time and clinical experience. This trial shows that training courses significantly improve key communication skills. More resources should be allocated to address doctors' training needs in this vital area.

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Research has shown that communication workshops with simulations, role-plays, interactive practices, discussions, feedbacks, or self-debrief may be more useful in improving skills and reducing burnout than traditional lecture-based teaching.
“Research has shown that communication workshops with simulations of real-life clinical situations through role-plays, interactive practices, discussions, feedbacks, or self-debrief may be more useful in improving skills [5,22] and reducing burnout in HCP than traditional lecture-based teaching [2,14].”
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Outcome data were complete in only six of the included studies.
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Only five studies appeared to be at high risk of bias from selective reporting.
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From Interventions for providers to promote a patient-centred approach in clinical consultations (2012) · cites this paper as Fallowfield 2002

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Authors: Fallowfield, L., Jenkins, V., Farewell, V., Saul, J., Duffy, A., & Eves, R.
Affiliations: University of Sussex (GB)
Corresponding author: Fallowfield, Lesley
ORCID: Fallowfield, Lesley
Jenkins, Valerie
Venue: The Lancet
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Published: 2002-02
Volume: 359
Issue: 9307
Pages: 650-656
ISSN: 0099-5355 (ISSN-L)
0140-6736
DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(02)07810-8
OpenAlex: W2141791438
Cited by: 854
References: 24
Citations by year: 2026: 13 · 2025: 17 · 2024: 26 · 2023: 21 · 2022: 27 · 2021: 31 · 2020: 28 · 2019: 30 · 2018: 28 · 2017: 43 · 2016: 36 · 2015: 25 · 2014: 36 · 2013: 48 · 2012: 50
FWCI: 93.04
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: green
figshare.com
Licence: cc-by
www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
Locations: The Lancet (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Figshare (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders: Cancer Research UK
Topics: Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Patient-Provider Communication in Healthcare
Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Innovations in Medical Education
Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Empathy and Medical Education
Keywords: physician-patient communication, communication skills training, oncologists, written feedback, videotape review, role play, empathy, leading questions, physician training
MeSH terms: Adult, Clinical Competence, Communication, Competency-Based Education, Female, United Kingdom, Humans, Male, Medical Oncology, Physician-Patient Relations, Prospective Studies, Quality of Health Care, Regression Analysis, Odds Ratio

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Efficacy of a Cancer Research UK communication skills training model for oncologists: a randomised controlled trial

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