title: Breast cancer survivors' perceived medical communication competence and satisfaction with care at the end of treatment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Information is a care priority in most breast cancer survivors (BCS). We assessed whether BCS information needs at 8 months after hospital cancer treatment could be related to their age, education level, perceived medical communication competence, satisfaction with care, attachment style, and self-esteem.
  
  
  METHODS
  Of 426 BCS approached during the last week of treatment (T1), 85% completed the Medical Communication Competence Scale, European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Satisfaction with Care Questionnaire, Rosenberg's Self-Esteem Scale and Experiences in Close Relationships Scale. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the Supportive Care Needs Survey were completed at T1 and again 8 months later (T2) with a 66% (n = 283) response rate.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Baseline respondents' median (range) age was 56 years (23-86 years). Information needs decreased over time, although some persisted. Multivariate regression analyses evidenced overall higher information needs at T2 in younger BCS and in those dissatisfied with the information provided at T1. Specifically, in younger BCS, higher information needs were related to lower satisfaction with doctors' availability, and in older BCS, they were related to higher self-perceived competence in information giving, lower self-perceived competence in information seeking, and lower satisfaction with doctors' information provision. Psychological distress was strongly related to information needs. Education, BCS attachment style, and self-esteem were not associated with information needs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In order to enhance supportive care for BCS, younger BCS should be provided with more time to address all their concerns and older BCS should be encouraged to express their specific desires for information.
authors.affiliation: Psycho-Oncology Unit, Supportive Care Department, Institute Curie, Paris, France.|Psychology Institute, LPPS EA 4057, University Paris Descartes, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brédart
authors.affiliation: Inter-Psy, Lorraine University, Nancy, France.
authors.forename: Jean-Luc
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Kop
authors.affiliation: Psycho-Oncology Unit, Supportive Care Department, Institute Curie, Paris, France.|Psychology Institute, LPPS EA 4057, University Paris Descartes, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Chavie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fiszer
authors.affiliation: Tumour Biology Department, Institut Curie, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Brigitte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sigal-Zafrani
authors.affiliation: Psycho-Oncology Unit, Supportive Care Department, Institute Curie, Paris, France.|Inserm, Paris, France.|University Paris-Sud and UMR-S0669, Paris, France.|University Paris Descartes, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Sylvie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dolbeault
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003142:Communication; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D020380:Needs Assessment; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: breast cancer; doctor-patient communication; information needs; patient participation; satisfaction with care; survivorship