Assessing Communication Between Oncology Professionals and Their Patients

Roberts, Chris; Benjamin, Harold; Chen, Liddy; Gavigan, Molly; Gesme, Dean H.; McCarthy, Peggy; Samuels, Robert J.

doi:10.1207/s15430154jce2002_13

Cited by 35 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…[15][16][17][18] Cultural differences between older and younger physicians may be present as societal changes take place through the years. Although we looked for an association between respondents' religion or race and attitudes toward palliative care, we found none.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Palliative Care Training during Fellowship: A National Survey of U.S. Hematology and Oncology Fellows

Thomas

Curley

Wen

et al. 2015

Journal of Palliative Medicine

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Background: Despite requirements for palliative care training during fellowship, there is a paucity of recent data regarding the attitudes, knowledge, and skills of hematology/ oncology fellows in palliative care. Objective: Our aim was to assess fellows' attitudes toward and quality of training in palliative care during fellowship and perceived preparedness to care for patients at the end of life (EOL). Methods: In May 2013 a cross-sectional survey of hematology/oncology fellows was conducted. Results: Fellows from 93 of 138 fellowship programs responded (67.4%). Of the 347 fellows e-mailed, 176 participated. Nearly all fellows (99%) indicated that physicians have a responsibility to help patients at EOL. Fellows felt their overall training in fellowship was superior to training in EOL care (4.24 -0.78 versus 3.53 -0.99 on a 5-5 scale where 1 = poor and 5 = excellent, p < 0.0001). Fellows who had a rotation in palliative care during fellowship (44.9%) reported better teaching on managing a patient at EOL than those who did not (3.91 -1.0 versus 3.21 -0.87, p < 0.0001). Fellows reporting better teaching in EOL care felt better prepared to care for patients at EOL (r = 0.52, p < 0.0001). More than 25% reported not being explicitly taught how to assess prognosis, when to refer a patient to hospice, or how to conduct a family meeting to discuss treatment options. Conclusion: Many recent oncology fellows are still inadequately prepared to provide palliative care to their patients. There is significant room for improvement with regards to the quality of palliative care training in U.S. hematology/oncology fellowship programs.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Palliative Care Training during Fellowship: A National Survey of U.S. Hematology and Oncology Fellows

Thomas

Curley

Wen

et al. 2015

Journal of Palliative Medicine

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“…However, only 34% of respondents felt comfortable discussing CIM, and approximately half of all respondents felt they lacked the skills needed to communicate and help patients maintain hope. 19 When clinicians fail to communicate with patients about possibly effective CIM treatments, a loss of trust within the therapeutic relationship may result. Poor communication may also lead to diminished patient autonomy and control over treatment, thereby interfering with the self-healing process.…”

Section: Attitudementioning

confidence: 99%

Effective Communication About the Use of Complementary and Integrative Medicine in Cancer Care

Frenkel

Cohen

2014

The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine

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Complementary and integrative medicine (CIM) is becoming an increasingly popular and visible component of oncology care. Many patients affected by cancer and their family members are looking for informed advice and desire communication with their physicians about CIM use. Patients affected by cancer come to discuss CIM use with intense emotions and are experiencing an existential crisis that cannot be ignored. Effective communication is crucial in establishing trust with these patients and their families. Communication is now recognized as a core clinical skill in medicine, including cancer care, and is important to the delivery of high-quality care. The quality of communication affects patient satisfaction, decision-making, patient distress and well-being, compliance, and even malpractice litigation. The communication process about CIM use requires a very sensitive approach that depends on effective communication skills, such as experience in listening, encouraging hope, and ability to convey empathy and compassion. This process can be divided into two parts: the ''how'' and the ''what''. The ''how'' relates to the change in clinician attitude, the process of gathering information, addressing patients' unmet needs and emotions, and dealing with uncertainty. The ''what'' relates to the process of information exchange while assisting patients in decisions about CIM use by using reliable information sources, leading to informed decision-making.

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“…However, only 34% of respondents felt comfortable discussing CAM, and approximately half of all respondents felt they lacked the skills needed to communicate and help patients maintain hope. 44 When physicians fail to communicate with patients about effective CAM, a loss of trust within the therapeutic relationship may result. Poor communication may also lead to diminished patient autonomy and control over treatment, thereby, interfering with the self-healing response.…”

Section: The Benefit Of Effective Communication About Cam Usementioning

confidence: 99%

Communication in Cancer Care: Discussing Complementary and Alternative Medicine

2010

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In recent years, there has been an increased interest in complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use among people with cancer. Many are looking for informed advice and desire communication with their physicians about CAM use. Communication is crucial in establishing trust with patients, gathering information, addressing patient emotions, and assisting patients in decisions about care. The quality of communication in cancer care has been shown to affect patient satisfaction, decision making, patient distress and well-being, compliance, and even malpractice litigation. Communication is now recognized as a core clinical skill in medicine, including cancer care, and is important to the delivery of high-quality care. A communication approach that fosters a collaborative relationship that includes adequate information exchange, responds to emotional needs, and manages uncertainty can lead to informed decisions about CAM use. This type of communication can help facilitate an open discussion with cancer patients and their families about integrating CAM use into their care and help physicians fulfill their roles in caring, comforting, and healing, even when cure is not possible. In this article, the authors discuss a possible model of effective patient-physician communication about CAM use in cancer care based on a comprehensive overview of the literature.

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Assessing Communication Between Oncology Professionals and Their Patients

Abstract: Oncology HCPs believe that good communication is important and wish to improve their skills. Implications for cancer educators are discussed.

Cited by 35 publications

References 3 publications

Palliative Care Training during Fellowship: A National Survey of U.S. Hematology and Oncology Fellows

Palliative Care Training during Fellowship: A National Survey of U.S. Hematology and Oncology Fellows

Effective Communication About the Use of Complementary and Integrative Medicine in Cancer Care

Communication in Cancer Care: Discussing Complementary and Alternative Medicine

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