Communication Skills Training Program for Medical Staff Involved in Cancer Genomic Testing: A Mixed-methods Assessment of an Educational Initiative

Background/Objectives: Cancer genomic testing presents unique communication and educational challenges for healthcare providers, requiring specialized training approaches. We developed and evaluated a communication skills training program specifically designed for cancer genomic testing based on the SHARE protocol to reduce psychological distress in both medical staff and patients. Methods: A mixed-methods evaluation was conducted of a structured training program implemented across 10 institutions in Yamagata Prefecture. The program incorporated SHARE protocol-based training, role-playing sessions, and specialized modules addressing cancer genomic testing-specific challenges. Quantitative assessment utilized pre- and post-intervention questionnaires, and qualitative evaluation employed semi-structured interviews analyzed using exploratory inductive analysis. Results: Among 251 participants, 95% initially reported psychological burden when explaining cancer genomic testing results. Post-intervention, 95% reported reduced psychological burden, with 84% expressing training satisfaction. Exploratory analyses suggested anxiety reduction was significantly greater in nurses than other professionals. Qualitative analysis of 19 interviews identified four conceptual categories: complex information needs requiring psychological support, uncertainty about communicating germline findings, perceived knowledge gaps in genomic counseling, and organizational support needs for sustained practice changes. Conclusions: This educational initiative demonstrated improvements in addressing critical communication challenges in cancer genomic medicine. The mixed-methods evaluation provides an educational framework for curriculum development and faculty training in genomic medicine communication.