Oral Presentation Cancer Survivorship 2019

Training our health care professionals to communicate more effectively with migrants (#26)

Bettina Meiser 1 2 , Elvira Zilliacus 2 , Tim Wong 2 , Lisa Woodland 3 , Kaaren Watts 2 , Sarah Tomkins 4 , David Kissane 5 , Afaf Girgis 6 , Phyllis Butow 7 , Sandra Hale 2 , Astrid Perry 8 , Sanchia K Aranda 9 , Tim Shaw 10 , Helen Tebble 11 , Christie Norris 3 , David Goldstein 3
  1. Prince of Wales Clinical School, UNSW, UNSW, NSW, Australia
  2. UNSW Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  3. Hereditary Cancer Clinic, Prince of Wales Hospital, Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, NSW, Australia
  4. Cancer Services & Information, Cancer Institute , Sydney, NSW, Australia
  5. Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
  6. Centre for Oncology Education and Research Translation, Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, South Western Sydney Clinical School, UNSW, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  7. School of Psychology, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  8. Settlement Services International, Ashfield, NSW, Australia
  9. Cancer Council, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  10. Charles Perkins Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  11. School of Languages, Literatures, Cultures & Linguistics, , Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia

Objective: This study aimed to develop and assess the feasibility of an online communication skills training intervention to increase cultural competence amongst oncology healthcare professionals working with individuals from minority backgrounds.

Methods: The intervention provided examples of communication strategies using vignette-based, professionally produced videos, developed through an iterative process with input from a large multidisciplinary team. Fifty-three oncology nurses completed all three questionnaires at baseline, and within two weeks and then three months after accessing the programme.

Results: The online intervention was well received by the majority of participants, and was endorsed as clearly presented, informative, relevant and useful by more than 90% of participants. Eighty seven percent of participants reported increased confidence in communicating with patients via an interpreter, and 93% agreed that skills they gained would be useful in providing better patient care. Participants reported significant improvements in practice while interacting with people with limited English proficiency two weeks and three months after accessing the website (X2=13.66, P<0.001).

Conclusion: This online communication training programme can now be tested for its utility in improving patient care for health professionals working with patients from minority backgrounds.