Abstract
Communication remains a central priority in healthcare, making it a key component of many training efforts. The positive impacts of communication training in healthcare settings have been well-established; however, the linkage of communication training to key organizational outcomes (e.g., engagement, performance, retention) remains underexplored. The present study investigated a training program targeting interpersonal communication within a large academic oncology center. We drew from Cognitive Load Theory and Social Cognitive Theory to evaluate the impact of the training on participant learning (retention and utilization), transfer (communication, decision-making, performance), and results-level outcomes (engagement and turnover). The program centered around a personality framework and maximized adult learning principles. Our sample consisted of 6,999 employee participants and a matched control sample of 6,741 employees who did not participate in the training. As hypothesized, trainees remembered and utilized the personality framework from the training program more in comparison to other personality assessments. Our findings also supported greater employee engagement, performance, and retention in comparison to the control group. An agenda for future research and implications for practice are discussed.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.52519/ACEQI.25.1.1.a12
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Recommended Citation
Woods Herron A, Hessen P, Cavanaugh KJ, Hayes WC, Hassid V, Holladay CL. Making Training Stick: Transferring Learning Back to the Job. Advances in Cancer Education and Quality Improvement. 2025; 1(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.52519/ACEQI.25.1.1.a12.
List of Survey Items
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Industrial and Organizational Psychology Commons, Interprofessional Education Commons, Oncology Commons, Quality Improvement Commons