title: The significance of the doctor-patient relationship in coping with cancer.
abstract: The uncertainty and anxiety experienced by cancer patients and their ways of coping with uncertainty and anxiety were studied on the basis of a questionnaire completed by 418 patients. The study shows that 28.2% of the patients had a low and 33.5% had a high uncertainty score, while 50% had a low and 9% had a high anxiety score. Four ways of coping with uncertainty and anxiety can be distinguished, of which the use of self-instruction means was most common. Expert help proved to be important for reduction of uncertainty. For reduction of anxiety the support of the home environment and of fellow-patients was also of importance. The implications of these findings for the doctor's performance and for the care of cancer patients are discussed.
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D003142:Communication; D003674:Defense Mechanisms; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires