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document
Factors that influence cancer patients ' anxiety following a medical consultation : impact of a communication skills training programme for physicians . BACKGROUND No study has yet assessed the impact of physicians ' skills acquisition after a communication skills training programme on the evolution of patients ' anxiety following a medical consultation . This study aimed to compare the impact , on patients ' anxiety , of a basic communication skills training programme ( BT ) and the same programme consolidated by consolidation workshops ( CW ) , and to investigate physicians ' communication variables associated with patients ' anxiety . PATIENTS AND METHODS Physicians , after attending the BT , were randomly assigned to CW or to a waiting list . The control group was not a non-intervention group . Consultations with a cancer patient were recorded . Patients ' anxiety was assessed with the State Trait Anxiety Inventory before and after a consultation . Communication skills were analysed according to the Cancer Research Campaign Workshop Evaluation Manual . RESULTS No statistically significant change over time and between groups was observed . Mixed-effects modelling showed that a decrease in patients ' anxiety was linked with screening questions ( P = 0.045 ) , physicians ' satisfaction about support given ( P = 0.004 ) and with patients ' distress ( P < 0.001 ) . An increase in anxiety was linked with breaking bad news ( P = 0.050 ) and with supportive skills ( P = 0.013 ) . No impact of the training programme was observed . CONCLUSIONS This study shows the influence of some communication skills on the evolution of patients ' anxiety . Physicians should be aware of these influences .
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Intervention_Educational
communication skills training programme
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Intervention_Educational
communication skills training programme
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Intervention_Educational
basic communication skills training programme ( BT )
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Intervention_Educational
consolidation workshops
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Intervention_Educational
BT
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Intervention_Educational
CW
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Intervention_Control
waiting list
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Outcome_Physical
anxiety
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Outcome_Physical
anxiety
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Outcome_Mental
State Trait Anxiety Inventory
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Outcome_Mental
Communication skills
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Outcome_Other
time
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Outcome_Other
physicians ' satisfaction
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Outcome_Mental
patients ' anxiety
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Participant_Condition
cancer patients ' anxiety
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Participant_Condition
Physicians