Patients' perception of communication with clinicians during screening and discussion of cancer supportive care needs.
OBJECTIVE
Effective communication between patients and clinicians is an essential aspect of supportive care for cancer patients, however many patients find this communication is inadequate. This study examined cancer patients' perception of communication with their clinician during a supportive care screening and discussion process and the ways in which this process assisted communication.


METHODS
One hundred and fifty-four patients undertaking treatment for cancer in chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgical units in six hospitals in Australia participated in a formal supportive care screening, discussion and referral process and were interviewed about their experiences.


RESULTS
The majority of patients interviewed felt that the process enhanced communication by encouraging them to reflect on their needs, assisting them to initiate a discussion with the clinician, validating their needs, encouraging them to seek help and support and focusing clinician attention on unmet needs.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients perceived the formal process of supportive care improved communication between themselves and their clinicians.


CONCLUSIONS
Undertaking a patient-centred process of supportive care can assist clinicians to meet the unmet needs of patients with cancer and can increase patient satisfaction.
Department of Rural and Indigenous Health, Monash University, Moe, Australia. rebecca.jones@monash.edu
Rebecca
R
Jones
Melanie
M
Regan
Eli
E
Ristevski
Sibilah
S
Breen
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia; D003142:Communication; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D005791:Patient Care / Q000592:standards*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010465:Perception; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires