“Too many patients never have a clear, meaningful conversation about whether a trial might be right for them.”
Cancer patients who could benefit from participating in clinical trials may never hear about such opportunities. To overcome this silence, researchers are creating a new chapter for a training program that teaches physicians how to communicate with cancer patients about the value of controlled cancer studies.
The practical program “Trainees Communicating about Trials” will work with oncology physicians in fellowship and residency training programs across the U.S.
The National Cancer Institute awarded $919,977 to the five-year educational program, which began on September 1 and builds on previous research. Leading the program’s team of eight additional researchers, Carma Bylund, PhD, is a Professor and Associate Chair of Education in the Department of Health Outcomes and Biomedical Informatics who also coordinates training programs for the UF Health Cancer Institute.
“Cancer clinical trials can provide patients with important treatment options, but too many patients never have a clear, meaningful conversation about whether a trial might be right for them,” Bylund said. “We will train a new generation of oncologists with practical communication skills to explain clinical trials, address patients’ questions and concerns, and support informed, patient-centered decisions.”
United in purpose
Bylund has been collaborating for many years with Elisa Weiss, PhD, from the charity Blood Cancer United, and they have enjoyed recent success with the program Cancer Clinical Trials Communications Skills. Blood Cancer United is a partner on this newly funded grant and Weiss will help to recruit training programs and co-teach workshops for the new trainees’ program.
“Trainees Communicating about Trials” offers two educational opportunities for two types of trainees. Oncology trainees in fellowships will participate in a live, Zoom-based communication skills workshop. The workshop began in 2023 and has proven its value to physicians. This new iteration intends to reach eight Hematology-Oncology fellowship programs per year for four training years. In addition, the workshop will be expanded to Radiation Oncology residency training programs, planning to reach four residency programs per year for four years.
A second training program expanding under the new grant is called “Preparing Patients for Cancer Treatment Decisions.” This program has demonstrated positive impacts since 2021. This self-guided online course targets primary care trainees and how they conduct referrals for cancer treatment. It plans to reach ten new primary care training programs per year in internal and family medicine.
Bylund says that communication skills education for practicing clinicians is well-accepted and that it translates into improved knowledge and attitudes for patients. Bylund also finds it ideal to target this type of education to young physicians who are completing their formal training in a residency or fellowship.