Communication for clinicians

Our Victorian Cancer Clinicians Communication Program (VCCCP) provides cancer clinicians with evidence-based communication skills to use when discussing cancer issues with patients, carers and family.

Cancer and cancer treatments can affect every aspect of a person, including their physical and emotional states, and their relationships with partners, family, friends and colleagues. With training, clinicians can improve communications skills and help create a more comfortable environment to discuss cancer issues at any stage throughout the treatment journey.

Workshops

The communication skills workshops are run for half a day, delivered in the workplace by VCCCP facilitators to a maximum of 10 participants. Workshops are tailored to the group's needs. The use of trained actors ensures participants can practise their skills in a safe environment that resembles a real-life situation.

Training programs

How to deliver bad news to cancer patients and their families

Delivering bad news is stressful for all involved: patients, families and clinicians. This workshop is designed to help people learn to relax and reduce anxiety. It provides evidence-based communications skills on how to deliver bad news.

Discussing sexuality with cancer patients, their family and friends

Cancer and its treatments can profoundly affect a person’s sexuality, including their body image, sexual functioning, relationships, identity and self-esteem. Although most clinicians can talk easily to patients about the technical aspects of cancer treatment and care, discussing the effects of cancer on sexuality can be difficult. This workshop will outline the latest evidence on how to effectively communicate with patients regarding sexuality.

Discussing the transition to palliative care with cancer patients, their family and friends

Many people find the transition to palliative care a stressful experience. This workshop covers the 4 important aspects of discussing the transition to palliative care:

Diagnosis of advanced, incurable disease
Treatment with palliative intent
End of anti-cancer treatment
Referral to palliative care

Effectively discussing complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) with cancer patients their families and friends

The prevalence of compelementary and alternative medicine use has risen in recent years with the vast majority of people with cancer use CAM in conjunction with conventional cancer treatment. Despite this, research shows health professionals do not always discuss CAM appropriately with their patients. This workshop is designed to provide evidence-based communication skills to use when discussing complementary and alternative medicine.

Eliciting and responding to emotional cues

Psychological distress is common in cancer patients. This workshop will enable health professionals to explore barriers to responding to emotional cues. It will cover 4 common emotional reactions that cancer patients can experience: anxiety, anger, depression and distress.

Training to become a facilitator of the VCCCP

This 2-day training program enables clinicians to deliver VCCCP workshops to their peers. Facilitators are trained in small groups and work in pairs to deliver the workshop. The pairs consist of one person with a medical background and one with a psychology background (e.g. a surgeon or medical oncologist and a clinical psychologist).

The workshop process and content is evidence-based and our facilitators are fully supported by Cancer Council Victoria.