An online intervention to improve oncology health professional self-efficacy in communicating with carers: Hybrid effectiveness-implementation evaluation of the eTRIO program

Rebekah Laidsaar-Powell; Sarah Giunta; Phyllis Butow; Sandra Turner; Daniel Costa; Christobel Saunders; Bogda Koczwara; Judy Kay; Michael Jefford; Penelope Schofield; Frances Boyle; Patsy Yates; Kate White; Puma Sundaresan; Suganthy Varadarajan; Ilona Juraskova

doi:10.1016/j.pec.2024.108251

An online intervention to improve oncology health professional self-efficacy in communicating with carers: Hybrid effectiveness-implementation evaluation of the eTRIO program

Patient Educ Couns. 2024 Jul:124:108251. doi: 10.1016/j.pec.2024.108251. Epub 2024 Mar 16.

Authors

Rebekah Laidsaar-Powell¹, Sarah Giunta², Phyllis Butow³, Sandra Turner⁴, Daniel Costa⁵, Christobel Saunders⁶, Bogda Koczwara⁷, Judy Kay⁸, Michael Jefford⁹, Penelope Schofield¹⁰, Frances Boyle¹¹, Patsy Yates¹², Kate White¹³, Puma Sundaresan¹⁴, Suganthy Varadarajan¹⁵, Ilona Juraskova²

Affiliations

¹ Centre for Medical Psychology & Evidence-based Decision-making, University of Sydney, Australia; Psycho-Oncology Co-operative Research Group, University of Sydney, Australia; School of Psychology, University of Sydney, Australia. Electronic address: rebekah.laidsaar-powell@sydney.edu.au.
² Centre for Medical Psychology & Evidence-based Decision-making, University of Sydney, Australia; Psycho-Oncology Co-operative Research Group, University of Sydney, Australia; School of Psychology, University of Sydney, Australia.
³ Centre for Medical Psychology & Evidence-based Decision-making, University of Sydney, Australia; Psycho-Oncology Co-operative Research Group, University of Sydney, Australia.
⁴ Department of Radiation Oncology, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia; Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Australia.
⁵ School of Psychology, University of Sydney, Australia.
⁶ Department of Surgery, Royal Melbourne Hospital, University of Melbourne, Australia.
⁷ Flinders Medical Centre, Adelaide, Australia; Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia.
⁸ School of Computer Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
⁹ Department of Health Services Research, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia; Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia.
¹⁰ Department of Health Services Research, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia; Department of Psychology, and Iverson Health Innovation Research Institute Swinburne University, Melbourne, Australia; Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia.
¹¹ Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Australia; Patricia Ritchie Centre for Cancer Care & Research, Mater Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
¹² Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia.
¹³ Susan Wakil School of Nursing, The Daffodil Centre, The University of Sydney, a joint venture with Cancer Council NSW, Australia.
¹⁴ Trans Tasman Radiation Oncology Group, New South Wales, Australia; Sydney West Radiation Oncology Network, WSLHD, Sydney, Australia; Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
¹⁵ Department of Radiation Oncology, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia; Blacktown Cancer and Haematology Centre, Blacktown Hospital, Blacktown, Australia.

PMID: 38626502
DOI: 10.1016/j.pec.2024.108251

Abstract

Objectives: Many oncology health professionals (HPs) report communicating with carers as complex; and receive limited carer-relevant training. We developed an online HP education program for supporting and managing carer involvement (eTRIO). We aimed to assess whether HPs' self-efficacy in carer communication, knowledge, and decision-making preferences improve following eTRIO. Satisfaction and implementation potential were assessed.

Methods: This type 1 hybrid effectiveness-implementation study used a pre-post single arm intervention design. HPs completed baseline measures, the eTRIO online module, and measures at 1- and 12-weeks post-intervention. Measures included: self-efficacy in carer communication (13-items), applied knowledge (7-items), preference for carer involvement in decisions (1-item). Fifteen of participants completed feedback interviews which underwent thematic analysis. User analytics were collected and analysed.

Results: Fifty-six HPs completed baseline measures, 42 completed post- and follow-up measures. At baseline mean self-efficacy score was 88. HPs showed a statistically significant increase in self-efficacy post-intervention (mean = 105.8, CI [12.99, 20.47]), maintained at 12-weeks (mean = 101.1, CI [8.00, 15.72]). There were no changes in knowledge or decision-making preferences. Program engagement and satisfaction were high, 86.7% participants rated eTRIO as very/extremely helpful.

Conclusions and practice implications: eTRIO provided HPs with confidence to effectively engage with carers and manage complex situations such as family dominance. These gains are noteworthy, as conflict with families/carers contributes to HP burnout.

Keywords: Communication skills training; Family carers; Health professional; Oncology; Online education.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Caregivers* / psychology
Communication*
Decision Making
Female
Health Personnel / psychology
Humans
Internet-Based Intervention
Male
Medical Oncology
Middle Aged
Program Evaluation
Self Efficacy*