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Oncologists' responses to patient and caregiver negative emotions and patient perception of quality of communication: results from a multi-ethnic Asian setting.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Malhotra, C; Kanesvaran, R; Krishna, L; Xiang, L; Kumarakulasinghe, NB; Tan, S-H; Tulsky, JA; Pollak, KI
Published in: Support Care Cancer
March 2018

PURPOSE: Patients with advanced cancer and their caregivers experience many negative emotions. Empathic responses from oncologists can help alleviate their distress. We aimed to assess expressions of negative emotions among patients with advanced cancer and their caregivers and oncologists' empathic responses during consultations in an Asian setting. We also assessed the association between oncologists' expression of empathy and patients' and caregivers' perception of communication quality. METHODS: We surveyed 100 patients with advanced cancer and their caregivers and audio recorded consultations with their oncologists. We coded expressions of negative emotions by patients and caregivers and oncologists' empathic responses. We also surveyed participating oncologists (n = 30) about their confidence in expressing empathy and perceived communication behavior outcomes. RESULTS: About 52% of patients and 49% of caregivers expressed at least one negative emotion during the consultation, though 59% of patients and 48% of caregivers reported not wanting to discuss negative emotions. Oncologists responded empathically to 12% of patients' negative emotions and 9% of caregivers' negative emotions, despite 92% of them reporting confidence in expressing empathy. Oncologists' expression of empathy did not vary significantly by patient, caregiver, or their own demographic characteristics. It also did not differ based on their confidence in expressing empathy and positive outcome expectations. When oncologists responded empathically just one time, patients perceived communication more favorably. CONCLUSIONS: In this Asian setting, patients and caregivers commonly expressed negative emotions. Oncologists' expressed empathy infrequently, although when they were empathic, it was related to improved patient perception of communication quality.

Duke Scholars

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Published In

Support Care Cancer

DOI

EISSN

1433-7339

Publication Date

March 2018

Volume

26

Issue

3

Start / End Page

957 / 965

Location

Germany

Related Subject Headings

  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Perception
  • Oncology & Carcinogenesis
  • Oncologists
  • Neoplasms
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Ethnicity
 

Citation

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Malhotra, C., Kanesvaran, R., Krishna, L., Xiang, L., Kumarakulasinghe, N. B., Tan, S.-H., … Pollak, K. I. (2018). Oncologists' responses to patient and caregiver negative emotions and patient perception of quality of communication: results from a multi-ethnic Asian setting. Support Care Cancer, 26(3), 957–965. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-017-3916-0
Malhotra, Chetna, Ravindran Kanesvaran, Lalit Krishna, Ling Xiang, Nesaretnam Barr Kumarakulasinghe, Sing-Huang Tan, James A. Tulsky, and Kathryn I. Pollak. “Oncologists' responses to patient and caregiver negative emotions and patient perception of quality of communication: results from a multi-ethnic Asian setting.Support Care Cancer 26, no. 3 (March 2018): 957–65. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-017-3916-0.
Malhotra C, Kanesvaran R, Krishna L, Xiang L, Kumarakulasinghe NB, Tan S-H, et al. Oncologists' responses to patient and caregiver negative emotions and patient perception of quality of communication: results from a multi-ethnic Asian setting. Support Care Cancer. 2018 Mar;26(3):957–65.
Malhotra, Chetna, et al. “Oncologists' responses to patient and caregiver negative emotions and patient perception of quality of communication: results from a multi-ethnic Asian setting.Support Care Cancer, vol. 26, no. 3, Mar. 2018, pp. 957–65. Pubmed, doi:10.1007/s00520-017-3916-0.
Malhotra C, Kanesvaran R, Krishna L, Xiang L, Kumarakulasinghe NB, Tan S-H, Tulsky JA, Pollak KI. Oncologists' responses to patient and caregiver negative emotions and patient perception of quality of communication: results from a multi-ethnic Asian setting. Support Care Cancer. 2018 Mar;26(3):957–965.
Journal cover image

Published In

Support Care Cancer

DOI

EISSN

1433-7339

Publication Date

March 2018

Volume

26

Issue

3

Start / End Page

957 / 965

Location

Germany

Related Subject Headings

  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Perception
  • Oncology & Carcinogenesis
  • Oncologists
  • Neoplasms
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Ethnicity