Cancer diagnosis communication: The perspective of oncologists, patients and caregivers

Effective cancer communication can improve patients’ awareness about health status, build trusting relationship and handle emotional distress. We aimed to describe the perspectives of doctors, patients and caregivers on cancer diagnosis communication and on its implications. In April 2022, a survey about cancer diagnosis communication was conducted across three institutions in Piedmont, Italy. Three different questionnaires with similar items were administered to patients, caregivers and oncologists. We included patients affected by solid tumours without restriction for histology and stage. We performed a descriptive analysis as pivotal evaluation for designing an observational multicentre study. 52 subjects were recruited: 9 patients, 6 caregivers, 37 oncologists; median age 37 yrs old; 29 (56%) females. Oncologists’ communicative skills were rated as adequate and completely satisfying by 33 (89%) and 2 (5%) physicians, respectively. Communication experience with doctors was described as adequate and completely satisfying by 6 (40%) and 9 (60%) by the group of patients-caregivers, respectively. End of life and progression disease communication were the most stressful topics according to 18 (49%) and 7 (19%) oncologists. In 94% of cases, doctors and patients-caregivers agreed that the setting, time available and language used were adequate for the dialogue. Interruptions during visits were considered relevant by 31 (84%) doctors and 1 caregiver only. More than 90% of interviewed reported that doctors verified the patient's level of awareness about disease before starting communication. 25 (68%) oncologists inquired what clinical details patients would like to receive. Oncologists provided a potential proper time to discuss with patients about their concerns according to 13 (87%) patients-caregivers and 33 (81%) doctors. 16 (43%) oncologists followed training courses on communication and 8 (22%) provided cancer communication with psycho-oncologists (up to 4 times per year). Oncologists, patients and caregivers reported a discrete satisfaction regarding cancer communication experience, although this data requires further validation on a larger observational study.