Background: Despite significant communication gaps between patients and physicians, there has been little effort to initiate and evaluate teaching programs. We investigated whether a communication skills training (CST) could be effectively conducted for Japanese oncologists.
Methods: Fifty-eight oncologists participated in the CST. We evaluated the program by measuring participant-rated confidence for communication with patients, burnout, and satisfaction of participants.
Results: Immediately and at 3 months after CST, confidence in communication increased significantly compared with before. The providers' emotional-exhaustion 3 months after the workshop, however, worsened. The participants' satisfaction level with the program was high.
Conclusions: The CST is feasible for Japanese oncologists, but it needs to be modified to reduce emotional-exhaustion.