title: Different perspectives on communication quality and emotional functioning during routine oncology consultations.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine quality of communication in routine oncology consultations from patient, physician, and observer perspectives, and to determine agreement of emotional function content in consultations from these three perspectives.
  
  
  METHODS
  In total, 69 consultations were included. Perceived quality of communication and whether or not emotional functioning had been discussed was evaluated with patient- and physician-reported questionnaires. Observer perspective was evaluated by content analysis of audio records of the consultations. Agreement between perspectives was analyzed and means compared using linear mixed models.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patients' ratings of communication quality differed significantly from those of both the physician and observer. Observer and physician scores did not differ significantly. Physicians rated emotional functioning as discussed more often than was reported from patient and observer perspectives.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The patients' view of the quality of communication differed from that of the physician and observer. Whether emotional functioning was discussed or not was also perceived differently by patients, physicians, and observer.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The underpinnings and implications of these results need to be further explored regarding how to move toward a higher degree of shared understanding, where different perspectives are more in alignment, and how to develop more valid methods for evaluating communication.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden. hanna.fagerlind@farmaci.uu.se
authors.forename: Hanna
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fagerlind
authors.forename: Asa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kettis
authors.forename: Ida
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bergström
authors.forename: Bengt
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Glimelius
authors.forename: Lena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ring
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003142:Communication; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008495:Medical Oncology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013637:Tape Recording