Table 1.

The COMFORT^{TM SM} Communication Curriculum

Module	Communication Theory/Framework	Communication Skills Building
Communication	Narrative Medicine	Learning the patient’s story Recognizing task and relationship practices
Orientation & Options	Health Literacy Cultural Humility	Gauging health-literacy levels Understanding cultural humility
Mindful Communication	Mindfulness	Engaging in active listening Understanding nonverbal communication Being aware of self-care needs
Family	Family Communication Patterns Theory	Observing family communication patterns Recognizing caregiver communication patterns Responding to the varying needs of family caregivers
Openings	Relational Dialectics	Identifying pivotal points in patient/family care Finding common ground with patients/families
Relating	Multiple Goals Theory Problematic Integration Theory	Realizing the multiple goals for patients/families Sharing hope and exploring uncertainty
Team	Groupthink Theory	Developing team processes Cultivating team structures Distinguishing successful collaboration from group cohesion