Parker Naomi D, Murphy Martina C, Eggly Susan, Weiss Elisa S, Amin Tithi B, Wollney Easton N, Wright Kevin B, Friedman Daphne R, Sae-Hau Maria, Sitlinger Andrea, Staras Stephanie A S, Szumita Leah, Cooks Eric, Bylund Carma L
Department of Health Outcomes and Biomedical Informatics, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA.
Department of Medicine, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA.
J Med Educ Curric Dev. 2024 Aug 5;11:23821205241269376. doi: 10.1177/23821205241269376. eCollection 2024 Jan-Dec.
Only 5-8% of adults with cancer participate in cancer clinical trials (CCTs), with even lower rates among underrepresented groups. Improving oncologists' communication skills may enhance the frequency and quality of their discussions with patients about CCTs, consequently increasing participation. However, little is known about interest in or presence of CCT-related communication training during Hematology-Oncology (Hem-Onc) fellowships. This study aimed to describe, from the perspective of Hem-Onc fellowship program directors (PDs): (1) the current landscape of CCT education for Hem-Onc fellows; (2) the acceptability and feasibility of implementing a CCT communication skills workshop for Hem-Onc fellows.
We used an explanatory sequential mixed-methods approach. PDs were surveyed and interviewed about their graduate medical education (GME) programs' current CCT curriculum, training challenges, fellows' CCT knowledge and CCT communication skills, and preferences for a CCT communication workshop.
PDs were surveyed (n = 40) and interviewed (n = 12). PDs reported that their institutions prioritize CCT accrual (M = 4.58, SD = .78; 1-5 scale, 5 = "Strongly Agree") and clinical research training (M = 4.20, SD = .85). CCT skills that programs least often addressed were how to (1) discuss CCTs with newly diagnosed patients, (2) talk to patients about CCTs when none are available, and (3) help patients find CCTs at other institutions. PDs were interested in a CCT communication workshop for fellows ("yes" = 67.5%, "maybe" = 32.5%) and said training would be feasible (M = 4.28, SD = .78) and useful (M = 4.47, SD = .78). Qualitative results described programs' current approaches to CCT education and insights about developing and implementing CCT communication training.
There is a clear need to improve CCT communication skills training in Hem-Onc fellowship programs and to implement and scale such training to increase CCT participation, especially among diverse patient populations. Furthermore, Hem-Onc GME PDs view such training as feasible and useful.
仅有5%至8%的成年癌症患者参与癌症临床试验（CCT），在代表性不足的群体中参与率甚至更低。提高肿瘤学家的沟通技巧可能会增加他们与患者讨论CCT的频率和质量，从而提高参与率。然而，对于血液肿瘤学（Hem-Onc） fellowship期间与CCT相关的沟通培训的兴趣或情况知之甚少。本研究旨在从Hem-Onc fellowship项目主任（PDs）的角度描述：（1）Hem-Onc研究员的CCT教育现状；（2）为Hem-Onc研究员开展CCT沟通技巧工作坊的可接受性和可行性。
我们采用了解释性序列混合方法。就其毕业后医学教育（GME）项目当前的CCT课程、培训挑战、研究员的CCT知识和CCT沟通技巧以及对CCT沟通工作坊的偏好对PDs进行了调查和访谈。
对40名PDs进行了调查，对12名PDs进行了访谈。PDs报告称，他们的机构将CCT入组（M = 4.58，标准差 = 0.78；1至5分制，5 = “强烈同意”）和临床研究培训（M = 4.20，标准差 = 0.85）作为优先事项。项目最不常涉及的CCT技能是如何（1）与新诊断的患者讨论CCT，（2）在没有可用CCT时与患者谈论CCT，以及（3）帮助患者在其他机构找到CCT。PDs对为研究员举办CCT沟通工作坊感兴趣（“是” = 67.5%，“可能” = 32.5%），并表示培训将是可行的（M = 4.28，标准差 = 0.78）且有用（M = 4.47，标准差 = 0.78）。定性结果描述了项目当前的CCT教育方法以及关于开展和实施CCT沟通培训的见解。
显然需要改进Hem-Onc fellowship项目中的CCT沟通技能培训，并实施和推广此类培训以提高CCT参与率，尤其是在不同患者群体中。此外，Hem-Onc GME PDs认为此类培训是可行且有用的。
