Cochrane · systematic review · CD003751
Communication skills training for healthcare professionals working with people who have cancer
Moore, PM, Rivera, S, Bravo‐Soto, GA, et al. · Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews · 2018 · Cochrane Library
SoF tableOnly the outcomes this review put in its Summary of Findings table are listed (the Cochrane Handbook caps them at about seven per comparison). Its other analyses are not shown here.
Questions
7
current version
GRADE rated
7
No studies
0
Included studies
NR
No studies 0 · 0%Ungraded 0 · 0%Very low 2 · 28.6%Low 2 · 28.6%Moderate 3 · 42.9%High 0 · 0%
Ungraded means an effect was reported without a GRADE rating; it is not a gap. No studies means the review found nothing to answer the question. The six categories are a display order, not a score.
Questions and results
Current version onlyCST compared to control for healthcare professionals working with people who have cancer
Population: Healthcare professionals working with people who have cancer
| Outcome | Effect | Evidence | Status / GRADE |
|---|---|---|---|
Used open questions CST vs control | no estimate extracted | 5 studies · 796 participants | Very low Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision, inconsistency |
Elicited concerns CST vs control | no estimate extracted | 3 studies · 221 participants | Moderate Downgraded: imprecision |
Gave appropriate information CST vs control | no estimate extracted | 4 studies · 489 participants | Moderate Downgraded: risk of bias |
Showed empathy CST vs control | no estimate extracted | 6 studies · 844 participants | Moderate Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision |
Gave facts only CST vs control | no estimate extracted | 5 studies · 780 participants | Low Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision, inconsistency |
Emotional exhaustion: Maslach Burnout Inventory: CST vs control | no estimate extracted | 3 studies · 202 participants | Low Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision |
Patient anxiety CST vs control | no estimate extracted | 3 studies · 770 participants | Very low Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision, inconsistency |
Comparison
Population: healthcare professionals working with patients with cancer
| Outcome | Effect | Evidence | Status / GRADE |
|---|---|---|---|
HCP showed 'empathy' | no estimate extracted | 6 studies · 727 participants | High |
HCP used 'open questions' | no estimate extracted | 5 studies · 679 participants | Moderate |
HCP 'gave facts only' (simulated patients only) | no estimate extracted | 4 studies · 406 participants | Moderate |
Patient satisfaction with communication | no estimate extracted | 2 studies · 429 participants | Low |
Patient anxiety: State trait Anxiety Inventory | no estimate extracted | 2 studies · 169 participants | Very low |