Kruijver 2001

Methods	RCT.
Participants	53 nurses from 11 wards in 3 Dutch hospitals: mean age was 32 years, 83% women; mean of 5 years' experience in oncology. 265 recently diagnosed cancer patients admitted for treatment. 106 patient encounters (55% women, mean age 55 years).
Interventions	Six 3‐hour sessions with 10‐15 participants run by two trainers with experience in clinical patient care. CST included theory, demonstration of skills, and feedback on role‐playing.
Outcomes	HCP (nurses') communication skills assessed on video recordings of SP interviews (one month post‐intervention) and 5 RP admission interviews between 1‐7 months post‐intervention using RIAS*: Instrumental communication (information collecting and giving)' affective communication (psychosocial and emotional topics). Nurses' 'burnout' was measured using MBI. Patients outcomes: Satisfaction with care (PSQ‐C)*; quality of life (EORTC QLQ‐C30)* were measured after the video taped interview, at discharge and 3 months after discharge.
Notes
Risk of bias
Bias	Authors' judgement	Support for judgement
Random sequence generation (selection bias)	Unclear risk	53 participants " randomised at ward level".
Allocation concealment (selection bias)	Unclear risk	Not described.
Blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias) All outcomes	Unclear risk	Independent rater but blinded status not described.
Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) All outcomes	Low risk	83% to 86% follow‐up.
Selective reporting (reporting bias)	Low risk	All pre‐specified outcomes were reported.
Other bias	Low risk	Baseline characteristics of two groups were similar.