title: Do healthcare professionals discuss the emotional impact of cancer with patients?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It is known that cancer may affect patients' emotions and their relationships with other people and that those with strong emotional support may enjoy improved outcomes. We sought to determine the frequency with which healthcare professionals discuss the impact of cancer on patients' emotions and relationships with others.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data regarding healthcare professionals' discussions of the emotional impact of cancer and relevant covariates were obtained from the 2010 National Health Interview Survey. Statistical analyses were performed using sudaan software (Research Triangle Institute, Raleigh, NC, USA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 2074 people with a prior diagnosis of cancer surveyed, 701 (33.8%) claimed that a doctor, nurse, or other healthcare professional had discussed with them 'how cancer could affect their emotions or relationships with others'. Of these, 586 (84.5%) reported that they were 'very satisfied' with how well their emotional and social needs were met; 73.4% of those who had not had this discussion reported being very satisfied. Patients with leukemia/lymphoma, younger patients, African Americans, and those with a lower degree of education were most likely to report having discussions about emotional issues. Gender was not correlated with these discussions (30.6% in men vs. 33.3% in women). On multivariate analysis, age, race, and cancer type remained independent significant predictors of having a discussion regarding the emotional impact of cancer.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Only a third of cancer patients discussed the emotional impact of a cancer diagnosis with their healthcare professional. Age, race, and type of malignancy affect the likelihood of having these discussions.
authors: Department of Surgery, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA.
authors: Allison
authors: A
authors: Bonito
authors: Nina
authors: N
authors: Horowitz
authors: Ruth
authors: R
authors: McCorkle
authors: Anees B
authors: AB
authors: Chagpar
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D003142:Communication; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D057184:Practice Patterns, Nurses' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D044469:Racial Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012944:Social Support
keywords: cancer; communication; emotional impact; healthcare professionals; oncology; social impact