Objectives	To be able to: Recognise that effective doctor-patient communication skills are crucial throughout all phases of the cancer care continuum  Demonstrate the necessary skills to effectively communicate to patients and their caregivers regarding disease, treatment options, prognosis and preferences for care at the end of life
Key Concepts	Demonstrate an understanding of the verbal and non-verbal aspects of communication Recognise cognitive and implicit biases of both clinician and patient (such as thoughts, attitudes and feelings which are influenced by cultural and contextual variables) that play a role in the medical encounter Recognise that effective communication skills foster patients trust in clinicians, facilitates shared decision making, enhances adherence to treatment and clinical recommendations, and participation in clinical trials Demonstrate an understanding of ASCO's consensus guidelines regarding patient-clinician communication
Skills	Demonstrate the ability to: Apply effective communication skills in the clinical encounter throughout the continuum of cancer care to promote trust and adjustment to the disease  Use agenda setting skills to identify patients' concerns and psychosocial needs (eg, distress)  Predict and respond effectively to patients' emotions (eg, empathy, validation, exploring)  Use a stepwise protocol to effectively deliver bad news (eg, Setting up, Perception, Invitation, Knowledge, Emotions with Empathy, and Strategy or Summary)  Perform a family meeting to discuss issues related to patients' condition and needs (eg, dependency, advance care planning)