Development of a communication skills training program for oncologists based on AYA cancer patient preferences

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 18H03034
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 58010:Medical management and medical sociology-related
• Research Institution: National Cancer Center Japan
• Principal Investigator: Fujimori Maiko 国立研究開発法人国立がん研究センター, がん対策研究所, 室長 (40450572)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 内富 庸介 国立研究開発法人国立がん研究センター, がん対策研究所, 研究統括(支持・サバイバーシップ研究) (60243565)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: コミュニケーション / AYA / 患者―医療者関係 / コミュニケーション・スキル・トレーニング / がん

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The cross-sectional survey clarified the communication preferences of Japanese young adult cancer patients regarding the disclosure of bad news, and the tendency was almost the same as the results of the communication preference surveys of adult and elderly patients which we had conducted. In addition, we showed that the prevalence of psychological distress was 55.3% (114/206) among young adult cancer patients. Pain, decrease in income after a cancer diagnosis, experience of negative change in work/school after a cancer diagnosis and poor social support were significantly associated with psychological distress.
Our developed online AYA-CST program, which has not yet been worked on worldwide, seemed feasible and might be applied to physicians who experience difficult communication situations with AYAs with cancer.

Free Research Field

人間科学、臨床心理学、行動科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

当研究で開発したAYA世代がん患者と医療者のコミュニケーション技術研修プログラムの実施可能性、有用性が示唆された。このプログラムは、今後、日本サイコオンコロジー学会CST委員会と協力し、学会の事業としての開催されることによって全国に普及され、最終的にはAYA世代がん患者と医師の望ましいコミュニケーションを促進し、患者の情報ニーズが満たされることで、患者が安心して治療を受けることが可能となり、生活の質の向上が期待される。