Communication as a Part of the Supportive Treatment in Cancer Care

Abstract

Interpersonal communication skills as part of the supportive care in cancer won new dimensions by demonstrating the association with enhanced ability of patients to cope with the disease, to enhance trust in health care providers, compliance with treatment and to reduce emotional distress and psychosocial burden. Besides empathy the effective patient centered communication is based upon perceptual and behavioral skills of caregivers. Doctors, nurses, and oncology social workers have to achieve skills to listen to patients complains and to respond to his/ her support needs. The aim of the present paper was to perform a meta analysis of published data dealing with principles and methods of the assertive doctor patient communication within the supportive care of patients suffering from emotional and social dysfunctions. The data of interpersonal communication skills in oncology presented in the current literature were collected using electronic databases and were elaborated in form of meta analysis of 24 selected publications. Active behavioral approach involves the understanding of the nonverbal indications of patients needs, preferences, and expectations, the evaluation of patients nonverbal expression of fear, uncertainty, irritability, depression and apathy or even the unwillingness to disclose his/ her concerns. Recognizing these and other concerns (marital and sexual problems, physical and cognitive functioning etc.), caregivers should respond these concerns in verbal form of psychosocial support. Skills in the interpersonal communication can be learned by clinical experience and theoretical preparation. Developing the communication skills including the perception and behavioral style is particularly important in clinicians early medical teaching. The implementation of communication skills into undergraduate and postgraduate study programs in medicine, nursing, and other paramedical subjects is still in infancy, although the professional communication with cancer patient and its family members is associated with clear and important outcomes of care approved by clinical research and recognized by cancer professionals.