Clinician Competencies for Self-Management Support in Cancer: Expert Consensus Recommendations From the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer

Purpose Many people affected by cancer benefit from self-management, but this requires support from cancer care clinicians. Currently, there is a lack of consensus about the minimum competencies required of clinicians to facilitate effective self-management support (SMS). Methods A two-round online modified Delphi study involving cancer care clinicians was conducted to reach consensus on which performance criteria from a comprehensive SMS framework for cancer nurses should be considered minimum competencies that cancer care clinicians should possess. The perspectives of people affected by cancer regarding SMS needs were collected via online interviews and further shaped the statements. The project team finalized a list of minimum competencies for care-providers (care-provider version) and a reader-adjusted version for people affected by cancer (patient version). Results 27 clinicians and 14 people affected by cancer participated. Eighteen performance criteria from the original framework reached consensus for inclusion as minimum competencies, with participant feedback informing refinements to both the care-provider and patient versions. The performance criteria included statements from all six domains of the original framework: person-centered and motivational communication, whole-person assessment of SMS needs and capacity, health promotion theories and interventions, coaching for behavior change tailored to the individual, monitoring and evaluating change in self-management behaviors and health outcomes, and quality improvement for integration of SMS in cancer care. Conclusion The minimum competencies for SMS can be used to inform care provider education, skills assessment, and encourage patient activation for improved support, to optimize patient outcomes and health care utilization. International organizations, such as the Multinational Association for Supportive Care in Cancer, represent an ideal forum for the dissemination and strengthening of these competencies, and for local implementation.