title: How oncologists' communication improves (analogue) patients' recall of information. A randomized video-vignettes study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cancer patients need information provision to cope with their disease. However, only 20-60% of information provided during consultations is remembered. This study aimed to investigate whether oncologists' use of trust-conveying communication, characterized by communicating competence, honesty and caring, enhances patients' memory. Moreover, we aimed to investigate if this hypothetical relationship is mediated by a reduction in psychophysiological arousal during the consultation.
  
  
  METHODS
  An experimental design was used, allowing for conclusion about causality. Two versions of a scripted video-taped consultation were used in which the oncologist adopted either a standard or a trust-conveying communication style. 97 cancer-naive individuals acted as analogue patients and were randomly assigned to watch one of the consultations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Free recall, assessed 24-28h after viewing, was higher (p=0.039) in the trust-conveying condition (65.3% versus 59.5%). Recognition did not differ (p=0.502). Psychophysiological assessment during watching showed a smaller heart rate response in the trust-conveying condition (p=0.037). No mediation effect nor an effect on electrodermal activity was found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that oncologists' use of trust-conveying communication could increase patients' free recall of information and diminish their cardiovascular response.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The underlying mechanisms by which oncologists' communication influences information recall warrants further investigation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Psychology, Academic Medical Center/University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: N M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Medendorp
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Psychology, Academic Medical Center/University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address: n.c.visser@amc.uva.nl.
authors.forename: L N C
authors.initials: LNC
authors.lastname: Visser
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Psychology, Academic Medical Center/University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Hillen
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Psychology, Academic Medical Center/University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: J C J M
authors.initials: JCJM
authors.lastname: de Haes
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Psychology, Academic Medical Center/University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: E M A
authors.initials: EMA
authors.lastname: Smets
mesh_terms: D003142:Communication; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms; D000072103:Oncologists / Q000523:psychology*; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D035502:Trust
keywords: Information recall; Memory; Oncology; Physician-patient communication; Psychophysiology; Trust; Video-vignettes design