 Methods: Physician participants will be randomly assigned in groups n 3group to a 30-hour CST program experimental group or to a waiting list control group. The training program will include learner-centered, skills-focused, practice-oriented techniques. Training efficacy is assessed in the context of an encounter with a simulated advanced stage cancer patient at baseline and after the CST for the experimental group, and after four months for the waiting-list group. Efficacy assessments will include communicational, psychological and physiological measures. Group-by-time effects will be analyzed using a generalized estimating equation GEE. A power analysis indicated that a sample size of 60 30 experimental and 30 control participants will be sufficient to detect effects. 