Online communication skill training of patients with cancer: A test of the behavioral intention predictive framework for communication skills

Objective

To assess the Behavioral Intention Predictive Framework's utility in explaining variation in cancer patients' strong behavioral intention (SBI) to use LEAPS (Listen, Educate, Assess, Partner, Support) communication skills after viewing training videos.

Methods

Ninety-eight patients were enrolled through anonymized online platforms to view LEAPS training videos, complete background and communication questionnaires and report their SBI to use LEAPS skills.

Results

On average, patients indicated SBI to use 6 of 13 skills and 46% of patients expressed SBI across individual skills. The framework explained 27.7% of the adjusted variance in SBI with significant predictors of frequent past use of LEAPS-related shared decision-making behaviors, poor emotional health, being rarely accompanied to visits and positive ratings of narrative videos. Finally, 21.7% of the adjusted variance in problem communication was explained by infrequent use of LEAPS-related information behaviors, patient accompaniment of another adult and positive narrative scores.

Conclusion

Patients SBI to use multiple LEAPS skills and past problem communication were explained by framework predictors.

Innovation

Despite theoretical and empirical evidence that behavioral intention significantly predicts behavior, it has not been studied in patient communication research. Application of the novel framework to LEAPS training videos contributes an innovative address of this research gap.