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. 1982;16(5):591-4.
doi: 10.1016/0277-9536(82)90313-6.

Physician attitudes toward communication with cancer patients

H P Greenwald, M C Nevitt

Physician attitudes toward communication with cancer patients

H P Greenwald et al. Soc Sci Med. 1982.

Abstract

KIE: A statistical survey of physicians with special interest in cancer care was undertaken in a midwestern community to determine the physicians' attitudes regarding informing cancer patients about their illnesses. While the majority of respondents indicated being comfortable in communicating with cancer patients, several factors seemed to influence the degree of ease in communication of potentially disturbing information: (1) years of experience (i.e., more years of experience being a negative predictor of ease), (2) type of practice, (3) experience in dealing specifically with patients suffering from metastatic cancer, and (4) specialty. Perhaps the most significant finding of the study was that physicians who treat the most serious cases are most at ease in telling patients of their conditions.

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