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Factors affecting patient and clinician satisfaction with the clinical consultation: can communication skills training for clinicians improve satisfaction?

journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-07, 16:17 authored by Valerie ShillingValerie Shilling, Valerie JenkinsValerie Jenkins, Lesley FallowfieldLesley Fallowfield
The provision of adequate information in a clear and sensitive manner can improve cancer patients' experience of care. Satisfaction with the cancer consultation may impact on satisfaction with care in general and adjustment to the disease. This study aims to identify factors that influence patient and clinician satisfaction with the cancer consultation and whether satisfaction can be improved with communication skills training. 160 doctors from 34 UK cancer centres participated. Half were randomized to attend a communication skills training course. Patient satisfaction data are presented at baseline and following a communication skills course or in the case of the control doctors, three months after baseline. Clinicians also rated their satisfaction with the consultations. Overall patient satisfaction was not related to the speciality, seniority or sex of the clinician or patient, site of primary cancer or type of treatment. Satisfaction was related to patients' age, psychological morbidity and, most significantly, satisfaction with the length of wait in clinic. Clinician satisfaction was not related to age, sex or cancer site but clinicians were less satisfied following consultations with patients being treated palliatively. Communication skills training had a non-significant positive effect on patient satisfaction. The subtle benefits of improved communication may be overshadowed by practical problems such as waiting too long to see the doctor, which have an adverse effect on satisfaction.

History

Publication status

  • Published

Journal

Psycho-Oncology

ISSN

1057-9249

Publisher

John Wiley & Sons

Issue

6

Volume

12

Page range

599-611

Department affiliated with

  • Sussex Health Outcomes Research & Education in Cancer (SHORE-C) Publications

Full text available

  • No

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2012-04-24

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