Evaluation of a patient communication skills training program for medical physicists.

Abstract Purpose To evaluate the efficacy of a training program designed to teach medical physicists how to communicate with patients effectively in the clinical environment. Methods The training program was offered three times between 2016 to 2019. Participants were asked to rank their level of confidence in 5 categories relevant to patient communication on a 5-point Likert scale at three separate time points over the course of the training program. Participants were also asked to provide written responses to 5 common questions from patients at two separate time points and these responses were numerically scored using the constant comparative method. Competency in patient communication was assessed during simulated patient consults using a 9-element clinical competency assessment form. Changes in participants’ stated level of confidence over the course of the training program and differences between faculty and residents were analyzed using Student’s t-test, and participants’ scored responses to common questions were analyzed using Analysis of Variance. Results 15 medical physicists participated in the training program; 6 resident physicists (four 1st year and two 2nd year) and 9 faculty physicists. Mean participant-stated level of confidence increased significantly across all categories (P Conclusions The patient communication skills training program increases medical physicist’s level of confidence across 5 patient communication categories and improves their responses to common questions from patients. In addition, the program can discern differences in communication competency between physicists.