Communication Strategies for Conflict Resolution in Clinical Research Teams

I am excited to have the opportunity to present at the upcoming Association of Clinical Research Professionals Global Conference this April in sunny Orlando. I will be presenting on communication strategies for conflict resolution in clinical research teams. (I know, how ironic, presenting on conflict so close to the happiest place on earth).

Conflict, in and of itself, is not necessarily a bad thing. Conflict can be an opportunity for growth within research teams, as it may generate new perspectives and new ideas for solving the problems facing the group. The danger in conflict is when it is handled poorly, or just ignored. Improving communication skills better equips individuals within a team to be able to effectively work together when conflicts arise.

If you can't make it to Orlando, I'll be doing a practice run of my presentation at the Southern Wisconsin ACRP chapter meeting on February 26 at the Medical College of Wisconsin.

Improving communication about clinical trials

This week's ACRP Wire highlights an article from the American Journal of Public Health which examines the problems with communication about clinical trials. Misinformation and miscommunication about the nature and the risks of clinical trials, specifically HIV vaccine trials, is inhibiting enrollment in these trials. In order for these trials to succeed, it is important to have the support and participation of high-risk groups and communities. But to get their participation, researchers have to improve how they communicate with community members and stakeholders. Improved communication will facilitate greater trust of the clinical research professionals, as the community will be able to see that they are working towards the same goal - improved health for the entire community.

Communication in Hospitals

Check out this blog post from Rock Health about the difference effective communication can make in hospitals. Focusing on better communication helps patients understand discharge instructions, improves quality of care while in the hospital, and creates an environment where all the staff endeavor to provide better care. And with new, innovative tools for assessing and measuring communication, hospitals and clinics will have the resources to continue to emphasize this important aspect of clinical care.

The importance of communication in clinical research

I think I finally have the Association of Clinical Research Professionals convinced about the importance of communication in clinical research. I had the privilege to present at the conference for the second time last week in Seattle. When submitting my proposals the last 2 years, I had to somehow fit my passion for communication in clinical research into one of ACRP's educational categories that didn't quite fit. I have submitted under the "ethics in clinical research" and "clinical research education" categories, but neither really acknowledged the important role of communication in this field. I knew how important effective communication behaviors and techniques are to things like effective informed consent and productive team management, but I wanted a platform to share my experience and expertise with my colleagues. My proposals were accepted but I felt like a bit of an oddball at a conference very concerned with government and clinical regulations. But this year we seem to have had a breakthrough. I had a great turnout and great discussion in my session on using communication theory to improve informed consent. The discussion both in and out of the session was robust. Attendees seemed eager to learn practical tools for integrating better communication processes in the clinical research world.

But more than my presentation, I've seen more presentations and discussion about the role of communication in both the management and execution of clinical research trials. So much so, that in the call for proposals for the ACRP 2012 conference, ACRP has suggested the category "communication in clinical research." I am excited to be a part of the growing interest in this field. And I will definitely be in Houston in 2012!

Finding the right metaphor

The ACRP Wire, the newsletter of the Association of Clinical Research Professionals, had an interesting article today on a study which looked at how language affects research participant understanding. The metaphors research coordinators use make a difference in participant understanding of concepts such as randomization. A metaphor that described randomization as similar to the flipping of a coin evoked the idea of winning or losing, while comparing randomization to the chance an expectant mother may have a boy or a girl was better understood.

The study points to the importance of effective communication, targeted to the literacy and health literacy of the potential research participants involved.

The physical environment and communication

The New York Times blog on aging, "The New Old Age," had an article that illustrates how interpersonal communication isn't just about two people talking, but is also about the environment and circumstances surrounding the interaction and the relationship. The article takes a look at Continuing Care Retirement Communities or CCRC, where residents can enter into an independent living apartment and be moved within the same building to an assisted living floor when the time comes. Intuitively, these facilities seem like a great idea: residents can make friends while they are still independent and mobile and when they require more assistance they will still be able to remain in the same community. But studies and observations are finding that moving within the same facility doesn't mean relationships stay in tact. It seems physically moving, even if it is only to another floor of the same building, can disrupt interpersonal and community relationships.

What do you think? Is there a way these facilities can better accommodate communities as individuals' needs change?

Communication about cancer screening

Yesterday, the American Cancer Society announced a shift on their position on certain cancer screenings. The Cancer Society said that American medicine has over-promised on the benefits of screening and some screenings over-diagnosis disease while missing other deadly diagnoses.

While there is healthy debate about the Society's decision itself, from a health communication perspective it reinforces that medical professionals need to take time to engage in discussion with their patients about the real risks and benefits of screening exams. Many patients expect medicine to be certain, where in reality uncertainties abound and not every decision is as simple as "You should get this test when you reach this age." Clinicians need to understand how each individual patient understands and assess risk and other health information. There is a growing body of research examining both how individuals understand numbers (numeracy) and how they assess risks and benefits. But the research is meaningless unless physicians and patients engage in continued dialogue and education about the goals of care, treatment and screening. Continued conversations won't necessarily make the decisions about screening quicker or easier, but they have the potential to ensure that individual doctors and patients the decision that is right for them.

Answering the question "Where did I come from?"

The New York Times had an article last weekend about the additional complexities of answering a child's question "Where did I come from?" when a surrogate is involved. No matter what technology was used to conceive a child, parents are encouraged to communicate to children that no matter how they came about, they are with the parents they are supposed to be with. And with more and more surrogate pregnancies, more families are going to consider just how they will communicate their unique story with their children.

Convent offers model for end-of-life care

The New York Times had a compelling article this week about a convent in New York providing comfort, care and support to elderly sisters at the end-of-life. The sisters in the convent communicate with their social network and their physicians about the care they wish to receive, and ultimately the death they want to have. Most of the sisters die at home in the convent, surrounded and comforted by their loved ones, and without aggressive medical treatment if they so choose. The convent offers a model of care for elderly patients, in which they are able to express their desires, and to be comfortable and at home in their last days. At the core of the model are open communication between patients, physicians and the social network and respect and tender care for patients at the end.

Empathy and communication

The New York Times printed an interesting article about a new program to teach health care workers and others what its like to be elderly. Participants engage in a series of simple activities, but while wearing equipment that limits the range of movement, sight and touch, simulating the day-to-day life of an elderly person. It is hoped that the tangible experience of feeling what it is like to be elderly will foster sensitivity toward elderly patients, clients and customers. This improved empathy also has the potential to foster better communication between generations, as the younger generation can catch just a glimpse of the physical limitations that may inhibit their elders.

You can find the article here: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/03/us/03aging.html?ex=1375588800&en=d3b42e922a1c4746&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink