Communication Skills Training for Lung Cancer Care

Not currently recruiting at 8 trial locations

Overseen By Jamie Ostroff, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Disqualifiers: Non-English speakers, Under 18, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 6

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to improve communication between lung cancer patients and their healthcare providers. It includes a 2-hour training session focused on empathic communication for doctors and clinicians. Patients will complete a short survey about their communication experience with their doctor both before and after these training sessions. Individuals with a confirmed lung cancer diagnosis or a suspicious lung mass who are current or former smokers may be suitable candidates for this study. As an unphased trial, this study offers patients the opportunity to enhance communication with healthcare providers, potentially improving their overall care experience.

Do I need to stop my current medications for this trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It seems to focus on communication between patients and clinicians, so it's unlikely that medication changes are required.

What prior data suggests that this communication skills training is safe for lung cancer patients and clinicians?

Research has shown that training in empathic communication skills is generally safe for participants. Studies on this training have reported no harmful side effects. The training enhances communication between healthcare providers and patients, potentially leading to better care. Participants typically find the training acceptable and manageable. This suggests that the training is a safe option for those considering joining a trial focused on developing these communication skills. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about this trial because it focuses on enhancing clinician-patient communication in lung cancer care through empathic communication skills training. Unlike traditional treatments that focus solely on medical interventions, this approach emphasizes improving the quality of interactions between clinicians and patients. By training clinicians to communicate with empathy, the trial aims to enhance patient satisfaction, understanding, and potentially even treatment outcomes. This innovative approach could lead to a more holistic cancer care experience, addressing emotional and psychological needs alongside physical treatment.

What evidence suggests that this empathic communication skills training is effective for improving communication between lung cancer patients and clinicians?

Research shows that training doctors in empathic communication can enhance their interactions with lung cancer patients. In this trial, thoracic and pulmonary clinicians will undergo a 2-hour empathic communication skills training. Studies have found that this training increases doctors' use of empathy, helping patients feel more understood and supported. Specifically, one study found that doctors who completed this training demonstrated greater empathy during patient visits. Another study suggests that patients might experience less stigma about their lung cancer when doctors communicate with empathy. Overall, this training aims to improve the quality of doctor-patient interactions, potentially leading to better patient outcomes. ^{1 3 6 7 8}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Jamie Ostroff, PhD

Principal Investigator

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

Inclusion Criteria

English fluency (determined through EMR or clinician report), as we do not have the resources to translate the consultations from other languages or the surveys to other languages;

Patients with confirmed lung cancer diagnosis or mass suspicious of lung cancer as per clinician report and/or EMR

Lung cancer diagnosis or suspicious mass as per clinician report/EMR within 0-6 months of consent or within no more than three visits to participating clinician

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Training and Assessment

Clinicians participate in a 2-hour training on empathic communication with lung cancer patients, followed by assessments with standardized patients.

2 hours

1 visit (in-person)

Patient-Clinician Interaction

Audio-recorded consultations between patients and clinicians, and completion of patient questionnaires.

1 year

5 visits (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for outcomes related to communication quality and patient perceptions.

1 year

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• 2-hour empathic communication skills training

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Part 2: Thoracic and pulmonary clinicians Experimental Treatment 4 Interventions

Following informed consent, clinicians will be scheduled to participate in a 2 hour training on empathic communication with lung cancer patients. Surveys will be collected from 6 patients (3 pre-training, 3 post-training). Clinicians will complete one standardized patient assessment before training (pre-SPA) and one assessment after training (post-SPA). These are 12-minute video-recorded clinic consultations with standardized patients (trained actors).

Group II: Part 2: Lung patients Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Following informed consent, the patient will complete the patient questionnaire, either electronically, by phone, or on paper. Patients who prefer to complete the survey electronically will be emailed a link to access to a secure electronic (web-based) version of the study assessment which they will have access to from any computer. Completing the survey will take about 15 minutes.

Group III: Part 1: Thoracic physicians and clinicians Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Will have 5 visits/consultations with their patients audio recorded.

Group IV: Part 1: Lung patients Experimental Treatment 3 Interventions

Following informed consent, the patient will complete the patient questionnaire, either electronically, by phone, or on paper. Patients who prefer to complete the survey electronically will be emailed a link to access to a secure electronic (web-based) version of the study assessment which they will have access to from any computer. We will include an introductory email with the survey link. Will audio-record actual patient-physician clinical consultations with lung cancer patients at Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK). Completing the survey will take about 15 minutes. Answer a few open-ended questions about the consultation with the doctor. We will audio record your answers to these questions. This will take about 15 minutes.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,998

Recruited

602,000+

Hamad Medical Corporation

Industry Sponsor

Trials

149

Recruited

729,000+

Dr. Khalid Mohammed Al Jalham

Hamad Medical Corporation

Chief Executive Officer since 2023

MD

Dr. Khalid Mohammed Al Jalham

Hamad Medical Corporation

Chief Medical Officer

MD

University of Arizona

Collaborator

Trials

545

Recruited

161,000+

Weill Medical College of Cornell University

Collaborator

Trials

1,103

Recruited

1,157,000+

University of Florida

Collaborator

Trials

1,428

Recruited

987,000+

Citations

1. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39182827/

Empathic communication skills training to reduce lung cancer ... This paper describes the study protocol for a cluster randomized trial comparing Usual Care (waitlist control group) with Empathic Communication Skills (ECS) ...

2. nlcrt.org nlcrt.org/wp-content/uploads/Ostroff-Empathic-Communications-Skills-Training.pdf

EMPATHIC COMMUNICATIONS SKILLS TRAINING Can we target empathic communication as a way to reduce levels of experienced lung cancer stigma? Develop, evaluate and disseminate ECS Training for oncology.

3. jto.org jto.org/article/S1556-0864(19)31373-5/fulltext

MA22.11 An Empathic Communication Skills Training ... Overall, results indicate that the new empathic communication skills training module was well received by thoracic oncology care clinicians and demonstrated ...

4. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1551714424002520

Empathic communication skills training to reduce lung ... The goal of this trial is to investigate the effect of the ECS training on (a) OCP primary outcomes (communication and empathic skill uptake) and secondary ...

5. ascopubs.org ascopubs.org/doi/abs/10.1200/JCO.2023.41.16_suppl.TPS12152

Randomized controlled trial to reduce lung cancer stigma ... Statistical analysis will evaluate the effect of ECS training on primary OCP outcomes (e.g., empathic skill uptake) and secondary patient- ...

6. trialx.com trialx.com/clinical-trials/listings/282666/empathic-communication-skills-ecs-training/?&radius=50

Empathic Communication Skills (ECS) Training WLC on patients' reported primary outcomes (lung cancer stigma), and secondary outcomes (perceived clinician empathy, satisfaction with ...

7. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11407099/

Empathic Communication Skills Training to Reduce Lung ... The goal of this trial is to investigate the effect of the ECS training on (a) OCP primary outcomes (communication and empathic skill uptake) and secondary ...

8. maps.cancer.gov maps.cancer.gov/overview/DCCPSGrants/abstract.jsp?applId=10486091&term=CA255522

Grant - Funding History - National Cancer Institute Feasibility, acceptability, and initial efficacy of empathic communication skills training to reduce lung cancer stigma in Nigeria: a pilot study. Authors ...