Palliative information: Doctor-patient communication
Section snippets
Communication is a therapeutic tool
Physicians and patients agree that good communication is a sine qua non for a productive relationship. For physicians, commonly stated benefits include increased satisfaction with work, decreased risk of burnout,1 a reduction in the likelihood of litigation,2 greater patient adherence to treatment guidelines, and better outcomes.3 Helping patients make informed decisions is also seen as an indication of clinical competence.4, 5 In oncology and palliative care, it serves to clarify goals and
Conclusion
Communication is a powerful therapeutic tool for cancer clinicians. Verbal and nonverbal communication frames the doctor-patient encounter and allows both participants to establish a climate of mutual trust and respect. Physicians can assist patients and their families to disclose their concerns, anxieties, and fears and ensure their needs are met as much as possible by the medical team. Carefully assessing a patient’s need and preference for information and clarifying the goals of treatment
Acknowledgment
I am indebted to Dr Paula Rauch for sharing her wisdom on communication with families and Dr Elizabeth Lamont for helping shape my views on doctors’ ability to provide accurate prognoses. I also wish to recognize the contribution and influence of Julie Goldman, anthropologist and cancer patient, who taught me to reconceptualize care from the patient’s perspective and to recognize the opportunities for transformation and transcendence at the end of life.
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