This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a colleague Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Save to my personal folders Download to citation manager Rights & Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Detmar, S. B. Articles by Schornagel, J. H. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Detmar, S. B. Articles by Schornagel, J. H.

How Are You Feeling? Who Wants To Know? Patients’ and Oncologists’ Preferences for Discussing Health-Related Quality-of-Life Issues

From the Division of Psychosocial Research and Epidemiology and Department of Internal Medicine, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Address reprint requests to N.K. Aaronson, PhD, Division of Psychosocial Research and Epidemiology The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam, the Netherlands; email naaron{at}nki.nl

PURPOSE: This study investigated (1) the attitudes of cancer patients toward discussing health-related quality-of-life (HRQL) issues; (2) the association between such attitudes and patients’ characteristics; and (3) oncologists’ attitudes and self-reported behavior regarding these same issues.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Two hundred seventy-three patients receiving palliative chemotherapy and ten physicians were asked to complete a series of questionnaires.

RESULTS: Almost all patients wanted to discuss their physical symptoms and physical functioning and were also willing to address their emotional functioning and daily activities. However, 25% of the patients were only willing to discuss these latter two issues at the initiative of their physician. Patients varied most in their willingness to discuss their family and social life, with 20% reporting no interest in discussing these issues at all. Female patients were more reluctant to discuss various HRQL issues than male patients. Older and less well-educated patients were more likely to prefer that their physician initiate discussion of HRQL issues. All physicians considered it to be primarily their task to discuss the physical aspects of their patients’ health, whereas four physicians indicated that discussion of psychosocial issues was a task to be shared with other health care providers. All physicians indicated that they generally defer to their patients in initiating discussion of psychosocial issues.

CONCLUSION: Although both patients and oncologists seem willing to discuss a wide range of HRQL issues, communication regarding psychosocial issues may be hampered by competing expectations as to who should take the lead in initiating such discussions.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. R. Schubart, M. B. Kinzie, and E. Farace Caring for the brain tumor patient: Family caregiver burden and unmet needs Neuro-oncol, February 1, 2008; 10(1): 61 - 72. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G Oskay-Ozcelik, W Lehmacher, D Konsgen, H Christ, M Kaufmann, W Lichtenegger, M Bamberg, D Wallwiener, F Overkamp, K Diedrich, et al. Breast cancer patients' expectations in respect of the physician-patient relationship and treatment management results of a survey of 617 patients Ann. Onc., March 1, 2007; 18(3): 479 - 484. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. L. Stanton Psychosocial Concerns and Interventions for Cancer Survivors J. Clin. Oncol., November 10, 2006; 24(32): 5132 - 5137. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. L Hudson, P. Schofield, B. Kelly, R. Hudson, M. O'Connor, L. J Kristjanson, M. Ashby, and S. Aranda Responding to desire to die statements from patients with advanced disease: recommendations for health professionals. Palliative Medicine, October 1, 2006; 20(7): 703 - 710. [Abstract] [PDF]

				M. M Groot, M. J. Vernooij-Dassen, B. J. Crul, and R. P. Grol General practitioners (GPs) and palliative care: perceived tasks and barriers in daily practice Palliative Medicine, March 1, 2005; 19(2): 111 - 118. [Abstract] [PDF]

				M. I. Figueiredo, J. Cullen, Y.-T. Hwang, J. H. Rowland, and J. S. Mandelblatt Breast Cancer Treatment in Older Women: Does Getting What You Want Improve Your Long-Term Body Image and Mental Health? J. Clin. Oncol., October 1, 2004; 22(19): 4002 - 4009. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. S. Bradlyn Health-Related Quality of Life in Pediatric Oncology: Current Status and Future Challenges Journal of Pediatric Oncology Nursing, May 1, 2004; 21(3): 137 - 140. [Abstract] [PDF]

				D. Razavi, I. Merckaert, S. Marchal, Y. Libert, S. Conradt, J. Boniver, A.-M. Etienne, O. Fontaine, P. Janne, J. Klastersky, et al. How to Optimize Physicians' Communication Skills in Cancer Care: Results of a Randomized Study Assessing the Usefulness of Posttraining Consolidation Workshops J. Clin. Oncol., August 15, 2003; 21(16): 3141 - 3149. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. J. Fisch, M. L. Titzer, J. L. Kristeller, J. Shen, P. J. Loehrer, S.-H. Jung, S. D. Passik, and L. H. Einhorn Assessment of Quality of Life in Outpatients With Advanced Cancer: The Accuracy of Clinician Estimations and the Relevance of Spiritual Well-Being--A Hoosier Oncology Group Study J. Clin. Oncol., July 15, 2003; 21(14): 2754 - 2759. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. T. Eton, D. L. Fairclough, D. Cella, S. E. Yount, P. Bonomi, and D. H. Johnson Early Change in Patient-Reported Health During Lung Cancer Chemotherapy Predicts Clinical Outcomes Beyond Those Predicted by Baseline Report: Results From Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Study 5592 J. Clin. Oncol., April 15, 2003; 21(8): 1536 - 1543. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Recklitis, T. O'Leary, and L. Diller Utility of Routine Psychological Screening in the Childhood Cancer Survivor Clinic J. Clin. Oncol., March 1, 2003; 21(5): 787 - 792. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Kaasa and J. H. Loge Quality of life in palliative care: principles and practice Palliative Medicine, January 1, 2003; 17(1): 11 - 20. [Abstract] [PDF]

				S. B. Detmar, M. J. Muller, J. H. Schornagel, L. D.V. Wever, and N. K. Aaronson Role of Health-Related Quality of Life in Palliative Chemotherapy Treatment Decisions J. Clin. Oncol., February 15, 2002; 20(4): 1056 - 1062. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. B. Detmar, M. J. Muller, L. D. V. Wever, J. H. Schornagel, and N. K. Aaronson Patient-Physician Communication During Outpatient Palliative Treatment Visits: An Observational Study JAMA, March 14, 2001; 285(10): 1351 - 1357. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]