title: The influence of patient-centered communication during radiotherapy education sessions on post-consultation patient outcomes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To adapt an observational tool for assessing patient-centeredness of radiotherapy consultations and to assess whether scores for this tool and an existing tool assessing patient-perceived patient-centeredness predict patient outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Measure of Patient-Centered Communication (MPCC), an observational coding system that assesses depth of discussion during a consultation, was adapted to the radiotherapy context. Fifty-six radiotherapy patients (from 10 radiation therapists) had their psycho-education sessions recorded and coded using the MPCC. Patients also completed instruments assessing their perception of patient-centeredness, trust in the radiation therapist, satisfaction with the consultation, authentic self-representation (ASR) and state anxiety.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The MPCC correlated weakly with patient-perceived patient-centeredness. The Feelings subcomponent of the MPCC predicted one aspect of ASR and trust, and interacted with level of therapist experience to predict trust. Patient-perceived patient-centeredness, which exhibited a ceiling effect, predicted satisfaction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patient-centered communication is an important predictor of patient outcomes in radiotherapy and obviates some negative aspects of radiation therapists' experience on patient trust. As in other studies, there is a weak association between self-reported and observational coding of PCC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Radiation therapists have both technical and supportive roles to play in patient care, and may benefit from training in their supportive role.
authors.affiliation: Psycho-Oncology Co-operative Research Group (PoCoG), University of Sydney, NSW, Australia. Electronic address: skye.dong@sydney.edu.au.
authors.forename: Skye
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.affiliation: Psycho-Oncology Co-operative Research Group (PoCoG), University of Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Phyllis N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Butow
authors.affiliation: Psycho-Oncology Co-operative Research Group (PoCoG), University of Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Daniel S J
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.affiliation: Centre for Medical Psychology and Evidence-based Decision-making, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Haryana M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Dhillon
authors.affiliation: Purdue University Center for Cancer Research & Regenstrief Center for Healthcare Engineering, Purdue University, College of Health of Human Sciences, West Lafayette, USA.
authors.forename: Cleveland G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Shields
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003142:Communication; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D018802:Patient-Centered Care; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology*; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D057566:Self Report; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D035502:Trust
keywords: Cancer; Patient-centered communication; Radiation therapy