Communications Skills Training

MOGA-ROCHE AUSTRALIA NATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS SKILLS TRAINING PROGRAM FOR AUSTRALIAN MEDICAL ONCOLOGY TRAINEES 2008-2010

INTRODUCTION

MOGA is responsible for the provision of education and training programs for Australian Medical Oncology trainees through the Special Advisory Committee of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians. An important component of this training provision has been Communications Skills Training. Over the last five years MOGA has presented Communications Skills Training Workshops once a year in many States of Australia as well as at Annual Scientific Meetings to benefit both trainees and consultants. This program has been funded by Roche Australia.

A THREE YEAR PROGRAM 2008-2010

MOGA has developed a strategic approach to Communications Skills Training with the development of a three year plan extending from 2008-2010. The new program is entitled the MOGA Roche Australia National Communications Skills Training Program. MOGA acknowledges the support and assistance of Roche Australia in partnering with our Association to present this important continuing professional development program.

The key objective of the plan is to ensure the efficient delivery of a core module of Communications Skills Training to each Australian medical oncology trainee once in their three year training cycle. There are approximately thirty new trainees who enrol in advanced training in medical oncology each year.

The program links-in and works with other providers and interested parties such as the National Breast Cancer Centre, Cancer Australia, State Cancer Councils and Cancer Centres to ensure future opportunities, collaboration and avoid duplication.

FACILITATORS AND ACTORS

The Communications Skills Training modules that are core to the professional development of Australian trainees in medical oncology require the support and assistance of trained facilitators and actors. There is currently a small number of individuals who have been trained to undertake these training activities available nationally.

To increase this number it is planned to present facilitator and actor training sessions. This component of the program will focus on training five facilitators and five actors to develop the pool of trained facilitators and actors available around Australia, and where possible for each State to assist with program delivery.

As part of this component of the program the core skills for facilitators and actors providing Communications Skills Training in medical oncology will be established and documented. A database of qualified facilitators and actors qualified to participate in communications skills training in medical oncology will also be established and maintained.

STATE TRAINING WORKSHOPS

The Program will present four State based Communications Skills Training Workshops in each year of the program. Commencing in 2008, Workshops will be presented in Sydney, New South Wales (incorporating the Australian Capital Territory), Melbourne, Victoria (incorporating Tasmania ), Adelaide, South Australia, Perth, Western Australia (incorporating the Northern Territory) and Brisbane, Queensland. In 2009-2010 the locations of the workshops will be rotated around Australia.

MOGA Trainees register to participate in each workshop and their travel costs from regional and near State locations will be covered. Each workshop will be run for half a day for a small group of between 5-10 participants. MOGA will request that participating trainees be released from normal duties in order to participate in the training workshops.

The workshops will deal with the following three core Communications Skills Training modules:

• Breaking Bad News
• Discussing prognosis
• Transition to Palliation

DELIVERY OF TRAINING

The training program will be delivered by a professional Communications Training provider, such as the Pam McLean Centre at the University of Sydney.