This study examined the relationship between (a) doctors' and patients' communication and (b) doctors' focus on the patient during the oncology consultation and patients' quality of life and satisfaction. The consultations of 96 consecutive cancer patients were recorded and their content analysed using Roter's interaction analysis system. Data collection (mailed questionnaires) took place after 1 week and after 3 months. The oncologists' behaviour was not related to patients' quality of life. Their socio-emotional behaviours related to both visit-specific patients and global satisfaction. Multiple regression analyses showed that quality of life and patient satisfaction were most strongly predicted by the quality of the consultation. Surprisingly, oncologists' focus on patients was negatively associated with global patient satisfaction after 3 months. In conclusion, doctor-patient communication during an oncology consultation is related to quality of life and patient satisfaction.
Doctor-Patient communication and cancer patients' quality of life and satisfaction, 2000
18 December 2022