A Web-based communication aid for patients with cancer: The CONNECT Study

Neal J. Meropol; Brian L. Egleston; Joanne S. Buzaglo; Andrew Balshem; Al B. Benson; Donald J. Cegala; Roger B. Cohen; Michael Collins; Michael A. Diefenbach; Suzanne M. Miller; Linda Fleisher; Jennifer L. Millard; Eric A. Ross; Kevin A. Schulman; Allison Silver; Elyse Slater; Nicholas Solarino; Daniel P. Sulmasy; Jonathan Trinastic; Kevin P. Weinfurt

doi:10.1002/cncr.27874

A Web-based communication aid for patients with cancer: The CONNECT Study

Neal J. Meropol, Brian L. Egleston, Joanne S. Buzaglo, Andrew Balshem, Al B. Benson, Donald J. Cegala, Roger B. Cohen, Michael Collins, Michael A. Diefenbach, Suzanne M. Miller, Linda Fleisher, Jennifer L. Millard, Eric A. Ross, Kevin A. Schulman, Allison Silver, Elyse Slater, Nicholas Solarino, Daniel P. Sulmasy, Jonathan Trinastic, Kevin P. Weinfurt

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

34 Scopus citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Cancer patients and their oncologists often report differing perceptions of consultation discussions and discordant expectations regarding treatment outcomes. CONNECT, a computer-based communication aid, was developed to improve communication between patients and oncologists. METHODS: CONNECT includes assessment of patient values, goals, and communication preferences; patient communication skills training; and a preconsultation physician summary report. CONNECT was tested in a 3-arm, prospective, randomized clinical trial. Prior to the initial medical oncology consultation, adult patients with advanced cancer were randomized to the following arms: 1) control; 2) CONNECT with physician summary; or 3) CONNECT without physician summary. Outcomes were assessed with postconsultation surveys. RESULTS: Of 743 patients randomized, 629 completed postconsultation surveys. Patients in the intervention arms (versus control) felt that the CONNECT program made treatment decisions easier to reach (P =.003) and helped them to be more satisfied with these decisions (P <.001). In addition, patients in the intervention arms reported higher levels of satisfaction with physician communication format (P =.026) and discussion regarding support services (P =.029) and quality of life concerns (P =.042). The physician summary did not impact outcomes. Patients with higher levels of education and poorer physical functioning experienced greater benefit from CONNECT. CONCLUSIONS: This prospective randomized clinical trial demonstrates that computer-based communication skills training can positively affect patient satisfaction with communication and decision-making. Measurable patient characteristics may be used to identify subgroups most likely to benefit from an intervention such as CONNECT. Cancer 2013. © 2013 American Cancer Society. CONNECT is a computer-based tool to provide communication skills training to cancer patients. In a prospective randomized clinical trial, patients assigned to CONNECT reported improved satisfaction with physician communication and improved decision making when compared to those patients who did not receive online skills training.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1437-1445
Number of pages	9
Journal	Cancer
Volume	119
Issue number	7
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1002/cncr.27874
State	Published - Apr 1 2013

Keywords

cancer
cancer communication
computer-assisted
decision-making
health communication
physician-patient communication

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1002/cncr.27874

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Meropol, N. J., Egleston, B. L., Buzaglo, J. S., Balshem, A., Benson, A. B., Cegala, D. J., Cohen, R. B., Collins, M., Diefenbach, M. A., Miller, S. M., Fleisher, L., Millard, J. L., Ross, E. A., Schulman, K. A., Silver, A., Slater, E., Solarino, N., Sulmasy, D. P., Trinastic, J., & Weinfurt, K. P. (2013). A Web-based communication aid for patients with cancer: The CONNECT Study. Cancer, 119(7), 1437-1445. https://doi.org/10.1002/cncr.27874

@article{cde3cf3a0e6940ffbb0adbb5d4e1cdd3,

title = "A Web-based communication aid for patients with cancer: The CONNECT Study",

abstract = "BACKGROUND: Cancer patients and their oncologists often report differing perceptions of consultation discussions and discordant expectations regarding treatment outcomes. CONNECT, a computer-based communication aid, was developed to improve communication between patients and oncologists. METHODS: CONNECT includes assessment of patient values, goals, and communication preferences; patient communication skills training; and a preconsultation physician summary report. CONNECT was tested in a 3-arm, prospective, randomized clinical trial. Prior to the initial medical oncology consultation, adult patients with advanced cancer were randomized to the following arms: 1) control; 2) CONNECT with physician summary; or 3) CONNECT without physician summary. Outcomes were assessed with postconsultation surveys. RESULTS: Of 743 patients randomized, 629 completed postconsultation surveys. Patients in the intervention arms (versus control) felt that the CONNECT program made treatment decisions easier to reach (P =.003) and helped them to be more satisfied with these decisions (P <.001). In addition, patients in the intervention arms reported higher levels of satisfaction with physician communication format (P =.026) and discussion regarding support services (P =.029) and quality of life concerns (P =.042). The physician summary did not impact outcomes. Patients with higher levels of education and poorer physical functioning experienced greater benefit from CONNECT. CONCLUSIONS: This prospective randomized clinical trial demonstrates that computer-based communication skills training can positively affect patient satisfaction with communication and decision-making. Measurable patient characteristics may be used to identify subgroups most likely to benefit from an intervention such as CONNECT. Cancer 2013. {\textcopyright} 2013 American Cancer Society. CONNECT is a computer-based tool to provide communication skills training to cancer patients. In a prospective randomized clinical trial, patients assigned to CONNECT reported improved satisfaction with physician communication and improved decision making when compared to those patients who did not receive online skills training.",

keywords = "cancer, cancer communication, computer-assisted, decision-making, health communication, physician-patient communication",

author = "Meropol, {Neal J.} and Egleston, {Brian L.} and Buzaglo, {Joanne S.} and Andrew Balshem and Benson, {Al B.} and Cegala, {Donald J.} and Cohen, {Roger B.} and Michael Collins and Diefenbach, {Michael A.} and Miller, {Suzanne M.} and Linda Fleisher and Millard, {Jennifer L.} and Ross, {Eric A.} and Schulman, {Kevin A.} and Allison Silver and Elyse Slater and Nicholas Solarino and Sulmasy, {Daniel P.} and Jonathan Trinastic and Weinfurt, {Kevin P.}",

year = "2013",

month = apr,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1002/cncr.27874",

language = "English",

volume = "119",

pages = "1437--1445",

journal = "Cancer",

issn = "0008-543X",

publisher = "John Wiley & Sons Inc.",

number = "7",

}

Meropol, NJ, Egleston, BL, Buzaglo, JS, Balshem, A, Benson, AB, Cegala, DJ, Cohen, RB, Collins, M, Diefenbach, MA, Miller, SM , Fleisher, L, Millard, JL, Ross, EA, Schulman, KA, Silver, A, Slater, E, Solarino, N, Sulmasy, DP, Trinastic, J & Weinfurt, KP 2013, 'A Web-based communication aid for patients with cancer: The CONNECT Study', Cancer, vol. 119, no. 7, pp. 1437-1445. https://doi.org/10.1002/cncr.27874

TY - JOUR

T1 - A Web-based communication aid for patients with cancer

T2 - The CONNECT Study

AU - Meropol, Neal J.

AU - Egleston, Brian L.

AU - Buzaglo, Joanne S.

AU - Balshem, Andrew

AU - Benson, Al B.

AU - Cegala, Donald J.

AU - Cohen, Roger B.

AU - Collins, Michael

AU - Diefenbach, Michael A.

AU - Miller, Suzanne M.

AU - Fleisher, Linda

AU - Millard, Jennifer L.

AU - Ross, Eric A.

AU - Schulman, Kevin A.

AU - Silver, Allison

AU - Slater, Elyse

AU - Solarino, Nicholas

AU - Sulmasy, Daniel P.

AU - Trinastic, Jonathan

AU - Weinfurt, Kevin P.

PY - 2013/4/1

Y1 - 2013/4/1

N2 - BACKGROUND: Cancer patients and their oncologists often report differing perceptions of consultation discussions and discordant expectations regarding treatment outcomes. CONNECT, a computer-based communication aid, was developed to improve communication between patients and oncologists. METHODS: CONNECT includes assessment of patient values, goals, and communication preferences; patient communication skills training; and a preconsultation physician summary report. CONNECT was tested in a 3-arm, prospective, randomized clinical trial. Prior to the initial medical oncology consultation, adult patients with advanced cancer were randomized to the following arms: 1) control; 2) CONNECT with physician summary; or 3) CONNECT without physician summary. Outcomes were assessed with postconsultation surveys. RESULTS: Of 743 patients randomized, 629 completed postconsultation surveys. Patients in the intervention arms (versus control) felt that the CONNECT program made treatment decisions easier to reach (P =.003) and helped them to be more satisfied with these decisions (P <.001). In addition, patients in the intervention arms reported higher levels of satisfaction with physician communication format (P =.026) and discussion regarding support services (P =.029) and quality of life concerns (P =.042). The physician summary did not impact outcomes. Patients with higher levels of education and poorer physical functioning experienced greater benefit from CONNECT. CONCLUSIONS: This prospective randomized clinical trial demonstrates that computer-based communication skills training can positively affect patient satisfaction with communication and decision-making. Measurable patient characteristics may be used to identify subgroups most likely to benefit from an intervention such as CONNECT. Cancer 2013. © 2013 American Cancer Society. CONNECT is a computer-based tool to provide communication skills training to cancer patients. In a prospective randomized clinical trial, patients assigned to CONNECT reported improved satisfaction with physician communication and improved decision making when compared to those patients who did not receive online skills training.

AB - BACKGROUND: Cancer patients and their oncologists often report differing perceptions of consultation discussions and discordant expectations regarding treatment outcomes. CONNECT, a computer-based communication aid, was developed to improve communication between patients and oncologists. METHODS: CONNECT includes assessment of patient values, goals, and communication preferences; patient communication skills training; and a preconsultation physician summary report. CONNECT was tested in a 3-arm, prospective, randomized clinical trial. Prior to the initial medical oncology consultation, adult patients with advanced cancer were randomized to the following arms: 1) control; 2) CONNECT with physician summary; or 3) CONNECT without physician summary. Outcomes were assessed with postconsultation surveys. RESULTS: Of 743 patients randomized, 629 completed postconsultation surveys. Patients in the intervention arms (versus control) felt that the CONNECT program made treatment decisions easier to reach (P =.003) and helped them to be more satisfied with these decisions (P <.001). In addition, patients in the intervention arms reported higher levels of satisfaction with physician communication format (P =.026) and discussion regarding support services (P =.029) and quality of life concerns (P =.042). The physician summary did not impact outcomes. Patients with higher levels of education and poorer physical functioning experienced greater benefit from CONNECT. CONCLUSIONS: This prospective randomized clinical trial demonstrates that computer-based communication skills training can positively affect patient satisfaction with communication and decision-making. Measurable patient characteristics may be used to identify subgroups most likely to benefit from an intervention such as CONNECT. Cancer 2013. © 2013 American Cancer Society. CONNECT is a computer-based tool to provide communication skills training to cancer patients. In a prospective randomized clinical trial, patients assigned to CONNECT reported improved satisfaction with physician communication and improved decision making when compared to those patients who did not receive online skills training.

KW - cancer

KW - cancer communication

KW - computer-assisted

KW - decision-making

KW - health communication

KW - physician-patient communication

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U2 - 10.1002/cncr.27874

DO - 10.1002/cncr.27874

M3 - Article

SN - 0008-543X

VL - 119

SP - 1437

EP - 1445

JO - Cancer

JF - Cancer

IS - 7

ER -

A Web-based communication aid for patients with cancer: The CONNECT Study

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

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