Focus of doctor-patient communication in follow-up consultations for patients treated surgically for colorectal cancer.
A series of consultations between patients treated surgically for colorectal cancer and their hospital consultants were examined to establish the main focus of the consultation at various stages in the post-surgical period. The results showed that follow-up consultations were predominantly doctor driven. Patients interviewed less than 12 months since the time of surgery (short-term group) were more likely to receive a longer consultation with a significantly higher number of verbal interactions (questions, responses) than patients more than 12 months since surgery at the time of interview (long-term group). Furthermore, patients in the short-term group played a greater participatory role within consultations than patients in the long-term group. The predominant focus throughout all consultations was biomedical, with little attention afforded to patients' expressions of post-operative anxiety. At present, it appears that out-patient consultations play a minimal role in either detecting or addressing psychosocial morbidity amongst colorectal cancer patients in the post-surgical period.
McCool
J
J
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, University of Auckland, New Zealand.
Morris
J
J
D000368:Aged; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery*; D003142:Communication; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000592:standards*; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000592:standards*; D013637:Tape Recording