How to Communicate Prognosis
This module addresses steps to prepare for a prognosis conversation, discusses barriers of this conversation with patients and families, and describes how to respond to patient’s emotions and their comprehension in an empathic way while eliciting what is most important to the patient.
Target Audience
This educational program is designed to meet the educational needs of oncologists, nurses, physician assistants, social workers, and other health care/oncology professionals who manage patients with cancer.
Learning Objectives
Following this activity, participants should be able to:
- Prepare for a conversation about prognosis by identifying and addressing important steps
- Identify barriers in communication of prognosis to patients and families
- Describe how to best communicate a prognosis, responding to patients' emotions in an empathic and respectful manner, eliciting patients’ understanding of their illness and identifying what is most important to them
Disclosure of Relevant Financial Relationships
All faculty and activity planners participating in NCCN continuing education activities are expected to disclose any relevant financial relationships with a commercial interest as defined by the ACCME’s, ANCC’s, and ACPE’s Standards for Commercial Support. All faculty presentations have been reviewed for adherence to the ACCME’s Criterion 7: The provider develops activities/educational interventions independent of commercial interests (SCS 1, 2, and 6) by experts on the topics. Full disclosure of faculty relationships will be made prior to the activity.
The faculty listed below have no relevant financial relationships to disclose:
Megan McMahon PhD
Betty Roggenkamp, BA
Lauren Wiebe, MD
NCCN Staff Disclosures
The activity planning staff listed below has no relevant financial relationships to disclose:
Ann Gianola, MA; Kristina M. Gregory, RN, MSN, OCN; Kristin Kline Hasson; Joan S. McClure, MS; Deborah Moonan, RN, BSN
The NCCN clinical information team listed below, who have reviewed content, has no relevant financial relationships to disclose:
Susan Darlow, PhD; Deborah Freedman-Cass, PhD; Miranda Hughes, PhD; Jillian Scavone, PhD
The ACCME/ANCC/ACPE defines “conflict of interest” as when an individual has an opportunity to affect CE content about products or services of a commercial interest with which he/she has a financial relationship.
ACCME, ACPE, and ANCC focuses on financial relationships with commercial interests in the 12-month period preceding the time that the individual is being asked to assume a role controlling content of the CE activity. ACCME, ACPE, and ANCC have not set a minimal dollar amount for relationships to be significant. Inherent in any amount is the incentive to maintain or increase the value of the relationship. The ACCME, ACPE, and ANCC defines “’relevant’ financial relationships” as financial relationships in any amount occurring within the past 12 months that create a conflict of interest.
All faculty for this continuing education activity are competent in the subject matter and qualified by experience, training, and/or preparation to the tasks and methods of delivery.
Physicians
National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
National Comprehensive Cancer Network designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 0.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Nurses
National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s (ANCC) Commission on Accreditation. NCCN designates this educational activity for a maximum of 0.27 contact hours. Accreditation as a provider refers to the recognition of educational activities only; accredited status does not imply endorsement by NCCN or ANCC of any commercial products discussed/displayed in conjunction with the educational activity.
Kristina M. Gregory, RN, MSN, OCN, is our lead nurse planner for this educational activity.
Physician Assistants
AAPA accepts certificates of participation for educational activities certified for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ from organizations accredited by ACCME or a recognized state medical society. Physician assistants may receive a maximum of 0.25 hours of Category I credit for completing this program.
Available Credit
- 0.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
- 0.27 ANCC contact hours
- 0.25 Participation
Price
Required Hardware/software
To complete this activity, users will need:
- A device with an Internet connection and sound playback capability
- Adobe Flash Player and/or an HTML5 capable browser for video or audio playback
- Adobe Reader or other PDF reader software for certificate viewing/printing