Individual Abstract within a Delegate Designed Symposium 2025 Joint Meeting of the COSA ASM and IPOS Congress

Tailoring healthcare professional communication for people with cognitive impairment in neuro-oncology. (126431)

Dianne M Legge 1 2 , Shaun Kirsten 3 , Haryana Dhillon 3 , Kerryn E Pike 4 5 , Rebekah Laidsaar-Powell 3 , Lauren J Breen 6 , Georgia K.B. Halkett 2
  1. ONJ Cancer Centre - Austin Health, Heidelberg, VIC, Australia
  2. Curtin School of Nursing/Curtin Medical Research Institute, Curtin University, Bentley, WA, Australia
  3. The Psycho-oncology Co-operative Group (PoCoG), School pf Psychology, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  4. School of Applied Psychology & Griffith Centre for Mental Health, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
  5. School of Psychology and Public Health, John Richards Centre for Rural Ageing Research, Latrobe University, Bundoora, VIC, Australia
  6. School of Population Health, Curtin University, Bentley, WA, Australia

Objectives/purpose
Effective communication in healthcare is pivotal to delivering quality care, and becomes complex in people with cognitive impairment (PwCI). Tailoring communication to PwCI and their families during consultations is challenging for healthcare professionals (HCPs). Substantial work has been completed in healthcare establishing training programs and guidelines to develop HCPs skills, including for PwCI. To date, this has not translated through to neuro-oncology, despite the often substantial cognitive impairments experienced by people with brain tumours. Our review aimed to distil guidelines for HCP communication with PwCI to underpin a training resource for HCPs working in neuro-oncology.

Sample and setting
The review followed JBI scoping review methods, using PRISM-ScR format. Data was identified in academic and grey literature databases using search terms on HCP communication guidelines for working with PwCI (e.g. ABI, dementia). Search criteria were restricted to HCPs and adults in non-residential care settings.

Procedures
Conducted using Covidence, data was reviewed by two researchers for suitability. Lead author conducted full-text reviews with 30% dual-reviewed. Data was extracted and summarised by two researchers.

Results
Initial search yielded 6257 results, 603 were retained for full-text review and 43 were retained for data extraction. Key elements for HCP communication were grouped into six categories: 1) concepts in communication - theoretical ideas supporting quality communication; 2) presentation/delivery – how HCPs impart content and information; 3) behaviour/actions – undertaken by HCPs to support communication; 4) environment elements – how environments support interactions; 5) engaging with families – strategies for balancing carer communication; and, 6) organisational factors – systems that support quality communication.

Conclusion/clinical implications
Building on expertise from related health areas, these six key elements outline a clear strategy for HCPs on ways to tailor communication to better accommodate PwCI and their families. This information forms the basis of the development of novel communication skills training for HCPs in neuro-oncology.