A qualitative study of communication skills for male cancer screening discussions.
BACKGROUND
Cancer screening guidelines acknowledge the need for physician-patient discussions on appropriate tests. This study examined expert clinician communication practices associated with prostate and colorectal cancer screening and testicular cancer early detection for male patients.


METHODS
Recorded observation and qualitative analysis of transcripts from 38 standardized patient interactions.


RESULTS
Most effective communication practices were elicited from the data and incorporated into a model for male cancer screening discussions.


CONCLUSIONS
Qualitative analysis of expert clinician interactions can identify best communication practices leading to the development of a communication model used in medical student teaching.
Dubé
Catherine E
CE
Institute for Community Health Promotion at Brown Medical School, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, USA. Catherine_dube@brown.edu
Fuller
Barbara K
BK
D000328:Adult; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D003142:Communication; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017145:Models, Educational; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D012237:Rhode Island; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology