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. 2005 Summer;20(2):113-8.
doi: 10.1207/s15430154jce2002_13.

Assessing communication between oncology professionals and their patients

Cleora Roberts  1 , Harold Benjamin, Liddy Chen, Molly Gavigan, Dean H Gesme, Peggy McCarthy, Robert J Samuels, Walter F Baile
Affiliations

Assessing communication between oncology professionals and their patients

Cleora Roberts et al. J Cancer Educ. 2005 Summer.

Abstract

Background: Effective communication with cancer patients continues to be an elusive goal for health care professionals (HCPs) and cancer educators.

Methods: We posted a survey on the ConversationsInCare.com Web site to collect information from oncology HCPs regarding attitudes, effectiveness, and specific patient communication skills.

Results: The 291 respondents agreed that good communication enhances patient satisfaction (76%) and treatment compliance (88%). Only 34% of respondents felt comfortable discussing complementary or alternative therapies, and approximately half of all respondents felt they lack the skills to help patients maintain hope.

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

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