2065P - Communication on the first medical oncology appointment: What do cancer patients want?

Background

Beyond the diagnosis, multiple situations during the natural history of cancer can be pointed out as stressful and hard to convey. The first Medical Oncology appointment is crucial and comprehensive, where patients are invited to understand their diagnosis and grasp the prognostic consequences of cancer and its treatment. Strategies to elicit information while meeting patients’ needs are required to overcome the potentially challenging moment, improve clinical outcomes and promote safe, high-quality, patient-centred care. This study evaluated the communication preferences at the first medical oncology approach.

Methods

A total of 169 cancer patients from a Portuguese Medical Oncology department answered the C-FAQ (Communication in first medical oncology appointment questionnaire), a survey representing the SPIKES and MPP (Measure of Patients’ Preferences) protocols asking about preferences regarding Content (what and how much information is told), Facilitation (where and when the information is conveyed), and Support (emotional support during the interaction) elements of communication and patient’s assign to these items.

Results

The Content elements (M=3.69, SD=0.35) were mentioned as the most important when compared with Facilitation (M=3.56, SD=0.39), t(30.13) = 17.38, p < .001, or Support (M=3.46, SD=0.44), t(24.14) = 7.12 p < .001. The physician’s knowledge, honesty and being given clear information about cancer and treatment were the areas of greatest importance. Facilitation was considered more important than Support, t(24.14) = 16.42, p < .001. Globally, all items were mostly evaluated as “very important”, Mdn 65.85% (11.525).

Conclusions

All communication components should be considered during the dialogue in this context. Medical teams should overcome barriers by learning skills to communicate with patients and promote engagement. More research is required to understand the complexity of the triad patient, physician, and family and address how patients’ preferences can be met in a demanding clinical atmosphere.

Clinical trial identification

Editorial acknowledgement

Legal entity responsible for the study

Hospital Professor Doutor Fernando Fonseca.

Funding

Has not received any funding.

Disclosure

All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.