Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2018 Aug;34(3):264-273.
doi: 10.1016/j.soncn.2018.06.007. Epub 2018 Aug 9.

Communicating with Patients and Families Around Difficult Topics in Cancer Care Using the COMFORT Communication Curriculum

Elaine Wittenberg, Anne Reb, Elisa Kanter
Review

Communicating with Patients and Families Around Difficult Topics in Cancer Care Using the COMFORT Communication Curriculum

Elaine Wittenberg et al. Semin Oncol Nurs. 2018 Aug.

Abstract

Objectives: To examine nurse communication in cancer care and offer communication strategies for quality palliative care nursing.

Data sources: Communication strategies offered are based on the COMFORT Communication curriculum, an evidence-based communication training program.

Conclusion: Whole-patient assessment, a major component of palliative care, involves communication that includes eliciting the patient's story, addressing health literacy needs, being mindful of burnout, and relating to the patient and family.

Implications for nursing practice: Quality communication skills are essential to oncology nursing, especially given their vital role in cancer care.

Keywords: cancer communication; communication; nursing education; oncology nursing; palliative care.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Ragan S, Wittenberg-Lyles EM, Goldsmith J, Sanchez-Reilly S. Communication as comfort: multiple voices in palliative care. New York, NY: Routledge; 2008.
    1. Eid A, Petty M, Hutchins L, Thompson R. Breaking bad news: standardized patient intervention improves communication skills for hematology-oncology fellows and advanced practice nurses. J Cancer Educ 2009;24:154–159. - PubMed
    1. Tobin GA, Begley C. Receiving bad news: a phenomenological exploration of the lived experience of receiving a cancer diagnosis. Cancer Nurs 2008;31:31–39. - PubMed
    1. Baer L, Weinstein E. Improving oncology nurses’ communication skills for difficult conversations. Clin J Oncol Nurs 2013;17:45–51. - PubMed
    1. Jin J, Sklar GE, Min Sen Oh V, Chuen Li S. Factors affecting therapeutic compliance: a review from the patient’s perspective. Ther Clin Risk Manag 2008;4:269–86. - PMC - PubMed

Publication types

MeSH terms