Table 4 Proportions of respondents reporting confidence in their communication skills for palliative care (PC) and advance care planning (ACP) dimensions
I feel confident that I am able to … | 2019 cohort (face-to-face training) | 2020 cohort (online training) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
T1 (n = 83) | T2 (n = 62) | T1 (n = 135) | T2 (n = 110) | |
… empathize with the patient and/or family members/caregiver(s) | 99% | 98% | 99% | 99% |
… empathically engage in an interview/consultation | 98% | 98% | 95% | 98% |
… respect and convey knowledge about different cultures and beliefs | 95% | 97% | 85% | 92% |
… ask for informed consent | 77% | 92% | 84% | 87% |
… cooperate and communicate well within a multidisciplinary team | 71% | 87% | 78% | 93% |
… break bad news/conduct a ‘bad news’ consultation | 70% | 68% | 71% | 70% |
… derive relevant clinical information from the interview with the patient and convey it back to the patient/relatives correctly | 59% | 65% | 53% | 65% |
… negotiate treatment goals and communicate them to patient and/or family members | 43% | 66% | 51% | 62% |
… discuss withholding of life-prolonging treatment (e.g., discuss DNR code) | 35% | 53% | 30% | 54% |
… resolve conflicts or negotiate conflicts (e.g., around end-of-life care) | 31% | 26% | 35% | 44% |
… discuss the patient’s impending death with him/her and/or family members/caregivers | 29% | 45% | 39% | 51% |
… report the death of a patient to family members/caregivers | 29% | 45% | 44% | 50% |
… cope with a palliative/dying patient | 23% | 61% | 24% | 62% |
… discuss ACP (e.g., appointing a representative, providing information on PC) | 22% | 71% | 14% | 60% |