INTERACT-CANCER - THE DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION OF A COMPUTER-ASSISTED COURSE ON COMMUNICATION-SKILLS FOR MEDICAL SPECIALISTS IN ONCOLOGY

One of the main problems in training medical specialists in communicat ion skills is the fact that very few specialists participate in such c ourses. Most courses on communication skills are hard to combine with a busy medical practice because of the course attendance requirement o n working days. Interact-Cancer has been developed to facilitate train ing in communication skills for medical specialists. It is an interact ive, computer-assisted course, which fits relatively easily into the b usy schedule of medical specialists in oncology because of its flexibl e character. The course can be followed individually by the participan t in his/her own department at suitable periods of time. Interact-Canc er has introduced a new training method. In this study, the appeal of the method to the target group has been tested. Thirty-three medical s pecialists participated in Interact-Cancer. They evaluated the course as worthwhile, relevant ttl daily oncological practice, attractive and pleasant. They stated that the course brought inadequacies in their o wn behaviour to their attention and encouraged them to change their co mmunicative behaviour.