title: Oncologists' communication about end of life: the relationship among secondary traumatic stress, compassion satisfaction, and approach and avoidance communication.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Oncologists must communicate effectively with patients and their families about end of life (EOL). Despite the importance of communicating on this topic, many oncologists avoid these conversations. The objective of this study was to examine the associations between secondary traumatic stress and compassion satisfaction and approach and avoidant communication about EOL with cancer patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A convenience sample of 79 oncologists (n = 27 men, n = 52 women) participated in the study. Oncologists completed a survey that included a sociodemographic and clinical information questionnaire, the Professional Quality of Life Scale, and Communication about End of Life Survey. To examine the effect of secondary traumatic stress and compassion satisfaction on approach and avoidant communication, while controlling for gender and age, 2 hierarchical linear regression analyses were computed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Oncologists reported high levels of secondary traumatic stress and high compassion satisfaction. Scores on the approach and avoidant communication scales were in the mid-range of the scale. Lower reports of secondary traumatic stress and higher compassion satisfaction were associated with higher approach communication strategies: however, only higher secondary traumatic stress was associated with higher avoidant communication strategies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings indicate that there is an association between emotional factors and approach communication. The findings have clinical implications in designing effective communication skills training. Further research and training should take secondary traumatic stress and compassion satisfaction into consideration to be able to ensure that terminal patients and their families receive the best quality EOL care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel.
authors.forename: Leeat
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Granek
authors.affiliation: Baruch Ivcher School of Psychology, Interdisciplinary Center, Herzliya, Israel.
authors.forename: Ora
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Nakash
authors.affiliation: Baruch Ivcher School of Psychology, Interdisciplinary Center, Herzliya, Israel.
authors.forename: Michal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.affiliation: Radiation Oncology Department, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat-Gan, Israel & The Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Merav
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ben-David
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Soroka University Medical Center, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel.
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ariad
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003142:Communication; D000068376:Compassion Fatigue / Q000523:psychology*; D004644:Emotions; D004645:Empathy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D000072103:Oncologists / Q000523:psychology*; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000523:psychology
keywords: cancer; compassion satisfaction; doctor-patient communication; end of life communication; oncology; secondary traumatic stress