Poster Presentation Clinical Oncology Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting 2024

Optimising communication skills in caregivers of people with cancer: An Australian adaptation and pilot study (#563)

Eva Yuen 1 2 , Carlene Wilson 3 , Joy Goldsmith 4 , Shadow Toke 1 , Alison Hutchinson 1 5 , Vicki McLeod 2 , Trish Livingston 1 , Daphne Day 2 6 , Kate Webber 2 6 , Elaine Wittenberg 7
  1. Deakin University, Burwood, VIC, Australia
  2. Monash Health, Clayton, VIC
  3. Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
  4. Department of Communication and Film, University of Memphis, Memphis, United States
  5. Barwon Health, Geelong, VIC, Australia
  6. School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC
  7. Department of Communication Studies, California State University, Los Angeles, CA

Aims: Informal caregivers play a crucial role in providing support to people diagnosed with cancer, however, have reported significant challenges when communicating with health providers to get all the information they need to provide quality care. This study aimed to adapt and pilot test a brief, US-developed, online communication training module (COMFORT caregivers) to improve caregiver-provider communication in an Australian context. 

Methods: COMFORT module adaptation was guided by steps in the Cultural Adaptation Model. Feedback from a working group (caregiver and patient consumers, cancer nurses and oncologists, Psycho-Oncology experts) was used to guide adaptation of module content. The adapted 15-minute module underwent pre-post pilot testing with cancer caregivers to examine module impact on communication confidence, caregiving preparedness, health literacy, and depression and anxiety symptoms. Evidence of acceptability, usability, and efficacy was examined through semi-structured interviews and intervention usability survey data.  

Results: Eight working group members provided predominantly positive feedback on module content, language, and images. Modifications to the module reflected Australian terminology and services. Nineteen cancer caregivers participated in semi-structured interviews and completed pre-post surveys. Repeated measures t-test analyses showed significant improvements in communication confidence, caregiving preparedness, health literacy, and depression symptoms following module exposure (p<.05). Acceptability and utility of the program was supported by survey and interview data.

Conclusions: Caregivers showed improvements in communication confidence, caregiving preparedness, health literacy and depression symptoms after completing the brief online module. Finding suggest that offering the 15-minute communication module to caregivers early in the cancer trajectory has the potential to optimise caregiver-provider communication, and subsequently improve health outcomes for the caregiver and the person with cancer.