Supporting doctor-patient communication in oncology: Providing communication aids to cancer patients in an outpatient clinic

Abstract

Communication aids can assist patients in obtaining the necessary information about their disease and treatment options. In this study, we explored the effect of two such communication aids: A question prompt list (QPL) and a consultation audio record (CAR) for the patients to bring home.

A QPL is a list of suggested questions patients might want to ask their doctor. The Australian QPL “So you have cancer” was translated into Norwegian, and then culturally adjusted after feedback from focus groups consisting of Norwegian cancer patients, as well as a survey.

The QPL was provided to patients as part of an explorative study, either alone or in combination with a CAR. Results from these intervention groups were compared to a previous control group. In the control group, we found that patients with a higher level of anxiety asked more questions and expressed a higher amount of emotional cues or concerns. The majority of questions asked by the control group related to treatment and practical issues, and neither question asking nor the expression of emotional cues and concerns were found related to physician SDM behavior. Few questions were raised about prognosis and treatment options, which are deemed essential for patients to participate in SDM.

Patients that were provided a QPL asked significantly more questions about their prognosis, the disease and the quality of treatment. The study did not find any relationship between the provision of a QPL and physician SDM, nor did it find any difference in the level of anxiety, depression or quality of life between the patients who were provided a QPL alone, a combined QPL and CAR, or the control group. Providing patients with the QPL increased the consultation length significantly. However, patients rated both the QPL and the CAR positively.