Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40011205›Full record

SynthesisPsycho-oncology2025

Communication Interventions Targeting Both Patients and Clinicians in Oncology: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Meghan McDarby, Emily Mroz, Leah E Walsh, Charlotte Malling, Marina Chilov, William E Rosa, Amanda Kastrinos, Kelly M McConnell, Patricia A Parker

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Psycho-oncology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Trial
  2. Review
  3. Article
  4. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Meghan McDarbyDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA.ORCID 0000-0001-9295-1812
Emily MrozSection of Geriatrics, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.
Leah E WalshBrookdale Department of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA.
Charlotte MallingDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA.
Marina ChilovTechnology Division/Memorial Sloan Kettering Library, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA.
William E RosaDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-0680-8911
Amanda KastrinosDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA.
Kelly M McConnellDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-2018-1860
Patricia A ParkerDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA.ORCID 0000-0003-1878-1186

Funding

X-RAY CRYSTALLOGRAPHYP30CA008748 · NCI · SLOAN-KETTERING INSTITUTE FOR CANCER RES · PI SELWYN M VICKERS · 1985 to 2026
$347.4M
Psychosocial Palliative & Community Research in CancerT32CA009461 · NCI · SLOAN-KETTERING INSTITUTE FOR CANCER RES · PI JENNIFER L HAY, Jamie S. Ostroff · 1985 to 2026
$10.1M
Yale Training Program in Geriatric Clinical Epidemiology and Aging-Related ResearchT32AG019134 · NIA · YALE UNIVERSITY · PI Terri R. Fried · 2001 to 2026
$7.5M
Developing a communication support intervention for cancer caregivers in emerging and young adulthoodK99CA279651 · NCI · SLOAN-KETTERING INST CAN RESEARCH · PI KASTRINOS, AMANDA · 2024 to 2025
$270k
National Institute on Aging Institutional Training Grant T32AG019134NCI NIH HHS K99 CA279651NCI NIH HHS P30 CA008748NCI NIH HHS P30CA008748NCI NIH HHS T32 CA009461NCI NIH HHS T32CA009461NIA NIH HHS T32 AG019134
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundHigh quality communication between individuals with cancer and their clinicians is a cornerstone of patient-centered oncology practice. Many communication skills training interventions have been evaluated to support either oncology clinicians or patients. However, there is little information regarding the scope and efficacy of combined communication interventions in oncology, or communication interventions targeting both patients and clinicians.

aimsTo systematically examine randomized controlled trials of combined communication interventions in oncology settings.

methodsFour databases (Pubmed, Embase, PsycINFO, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials) were searched using strategies developed by an expert librarian. All years were searched through May 2024. We followed PRISMA guidelines for reporting and used the Risk of Bias 2.0 assessment tool.

resultsThe search yielded 3983 records. We assessed 52 full text articles, 13 of which were eligible (8 describing cluster randomized controlled trials, 5 describing individual randomized controlled trials). Results indicate that combined communication interventions may increase patient-centered communication in oncology settings but may be less effective in improving patient care and related outcomes.

conclusionsCombined communication interventions in oncology settings and the outcomes measured to evaluate them are heterogeneous. This makes it difficult to determine the efficacy of combined communication interventions, the mechanisms by which these interventions improve patient-clinician communication as well as patient care and related outcomes, and which outcomes are most likely to be improved. Future work should clarify key targets of change for combined communication interventions and outcomes expected to be associated with patient-focused and clinician-focused intervention components.

Indexed as

CommunicationMedical OncologyNeoplasmsPhysician-Patient RelationsHumansPatient-Centered CareRandomized Controlled Trials as Topic

Identifiers

PMID40011205
PMCPMC12118447

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceTDM
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.