Geriatrics communication skills training program for oncology healthcare providers to improve the management of care for older adults with cancer

Objective: We evaluated the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of a novel intervention, the Geriatric Communication Skills Training Program (Geriatric Comskil Training) for multidisciplinary healthcare providers (HCPs).

Methods: Three 2-h modules comprised the training: Geriatrics 101, Cognitive Syndromes, and Shared Decision-Making. Modules consisted of didactic knowledge, exemplary videos, and experiential learning role plays with standardized patients. We collected pre- and post-training data from 11 HCPs (module evaluations, self-efficacy, communication skills uptake in interaction with standardized patients, perceived ageism) and 44 patients (perceived HCP empathy, satisfaction with HCP communication).

Results: HCPs rated all modules high, with over 90% agreement on all course evaluation items assessing involvement, critical thinking, and reflectiveness, and significant improvements in self-efficacy. HCPs demonstrated an uptake in communication skills from pre- to post-training in agenda setting and overall skill use and reported promising trends towards lower ageism scores (d = 0.58). Promising trends in patient-reported HCP empathy (d = 0.39) and satisfaction with communication (d = 0.29) emerged from pre- to post-training.

Conclusion: Continued efforts are needed to strengthen HCP education related to geriatric communication across the cancer continuum.

Innovation: The Geriatric Comskil Training demonstrated feasibility, acceptability, and increases in self-efficacy and communication skills uptake for HCPs.