Associations between the patient-physician relationship and health-related quality of life among patients with cancer.

Abstract

162 Background: Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is an important cancer care outcome. Patient-physician communication is linked to HRQOL, yet less is known about the role of other aspects of the patient-physician relationship in explaining HRQOL outcomes in cancer patients. Using secondary data from the Accountability for Cancer Care through Undoing Racism and Equity study, we examined associations between multiple patient-physician relationship factors and HRQOL in breast and lung cancer patients. Methods: The analysis included 283 patients receiving care at two cancer centers from 2013-2017. Survey data on socio-demographics, HRQOL, and patient-physician relationship (i.e., doctors’ respectfulness, time spent with doctors, doctors’ involvement of patient in decision-making, satisfaction with quality of care) were collected at baseline and during treatment. The primary outcome was a binary measure of poor-fair (vs. good-excellent) HRQOL 90 days post-diagnosis. We employed multivariate logistic regression to assess associations between patient-physician relationship factors and HRQOL. Results: In adjusted analyses, patients reporting high levels of physician respect had 78% lower odds of reporting poor-fair HRQOL than patients reporting low levels of respect (Adjusted Odds Ratio[AOR] = 0.22; 95%CI = 0.08-0.59). Patients who were optimally involved in their care had lower odds of poor-fair HRQOL than those less involved (AOR = 0.30; 95%CI = 0.12-0.77). Finally, patients who very satisfied with the quality of their care had a 40% lower odds of poor-fair HRQOL than those less satisfied with care (AOR = 0.40; 95% CI = 0.13-0.99). There was no association between amount of time spent with doctor and HRQOL. Conclusions: Multiple aspects of the patient-physician relationship, including doctor’s respectfulness, doctors’ involvement of patient in decision-making, and patient satisfaction with quality of care are associated with HRQOL among breast and lung cancer patients. Given the important role that HRQOL plays in treatment adherence and outcomes, these findings highlight the need for systems of care that optimize the physician-patient relationship in cancer care.

Patient‐centered outcomes of telehealth for the care of rural‐residing patients with urologic cancer

“…Despite the immense benefits telehealth offers for both urban-and rural-residing patients, it is important to continue to evaluate the impact the growth of telehealth care could have on the quality of provider-patient relationships moving forward given that having a strong provider-patient relationship is an important prognosticator of cancer care satisfaction and health-related quality of life. 12,13 Although most of our findings align with a priori hypotheses, findings indicating similar costs of travel among rural-and urbanresiding patients with in-person appointments differed from our hypothesis that rural-residing patients would have a higher cost of travel than urban-residing patients for in-person appointments. This may be driven by the small sample size of urban in-person visits or is likely driven by urban patients residing in micropolitan or urban areas with significantly longer driving distances from the FHCC.…”

“…Although both urban‐ and rural‐residing patients were highly satisfied with their telehealth urologic care, patients with in‐person appointments were more likely to “strongly agree” with the statement “I was pleased with the quality of the medical encounter.” Furthermore, urban‐residing patients with in‐person appointments were more likely to “strongly agree” with the statement “I was able to share sensitive and/or personal information with my provider” compared with urban‐residing patients with telehealth appointments. Despite the immense benefits telehealth offers for both urban‐ and rural‐residing patients, it is important to continue to evaluate the impact the growth of telehealth care could have on the quality of provider‐patient relationships moving forward given that having a strong provider‐patient relationship is an important prognosticator of cancer care satisfaction and health‐related quality of life 12,13 …”

Designing a model for patient relationship management in the general hospitals using the combination of analytic hierarchy process and interpretive structural modeling

“…The results of studies show that effective communication with the patient is often necessary for the improvement of the patient's health, more effective management of chronic diseases, and improvement of the patients’ quality of life. [ 10 11 ] Consequently, in order to increase customer satisfaction, hospitals should not only provide the best services and the most appropriate care environment but also expand close relationships with the patients. The PRM creates a win–win relationship between the hospital and the patient so that the patient who frequently visits a PRM-equipped hospital will have a file in which his or her different specifications, needs, illnesses, and conditions are recorded, and his or her treatment will be given with more confidence using past information.…”