What the study found
The study found a need for ongoing training in communication for paediatric oncologists working in intercultural, family-centered settings. The authors report that experienced paediatric oncologists benefited from the multimodal training they developed.
Why the authors say this matters
The authors say communication barriers in intercultural healthcare can create substantial disadvantages, and they conclude that communication training should be part of specialised medical training to help overcome these barriers. They also note that migrant children with cancer are particularly affected by communication deficits.
What the researchers tested
This was a monocentric, single-blind, cluster randomised interventional feasibility trial in paediatric oncology. The researchers observed 16 conversations, then conducted 10 more observations and 20 interviews with 10 patient families and 10 paediatric oncologists, and used these findings along with a literature review and an advisory board workshop to develop a training programme.
What worked and what didn't
The observations and interviews identified a need for training in communication, cultural competence, and interpreter-assisted conversations. The resulting skills training included three modules on cultural competence, ethical issues, and interpreter-assisted conversations, plus conversation simulations with three scripted patient scenarios; the abstract states that participants benefited from the training.
What to keep in mind
The abstract does not give detailed outcome data, effect sizes, or follow-up results. It also describes a single-centre feasibility trial, so the findings are presented within that limited setting.
Key points
- The study developed a multimodal skills training programme in migrant-sensitive communication for paediatric oncologists.
- Intercultural conversations revealed needs in communication, cultural competence, and interpreter-assisted conversations.
- The training included three modules: cultural competence, ethical issues, and interpreter-assisted conversations.
- Conversation simulations were built around three scripted patient scenarios.
- The authors conclude that ongoing communication training should be part of specialised medical training.
Disclosure
- Research title:
- Migrant-sensitive communication training was developed for paediatric oncologists
- Authors:
- Anne Oommen-Halbach, Vasilija Rolfes, Dilara A. F. Vossberg, Julia von Schreitter, Paula Merten, André Karger, Kuss Oliver, Maren Galushko, Lars Dinkelbach, Ortrun Kliche, Heiner Fangerau, Arndt Borkhardt, Prasad T. Oommen
- Institutions:
- Deutsches Diabetes-Zentrum e.V., Düsseldorf University Hospital, Düsseldorf University Hospital, Düsseldorf University Hospital, Düsseldorf University Hospital, Düsseldorf University Hospital, Düsseldorf University Hospital, Düsseldorf University Hospital, Düsseldorf University Hospital, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, University Hospital Cologne, University of Duisburg-Essen
- Publication date:
- 2026-03-07
- OpenAlex record:
- View
Get the weekly research newsletter
Stay current with scholarly research without reading academic papers — one filtered digest, every Friday.