Handbook of Communication in Oncology and Palliative Care

This comprehensive text provides clinicians with practical and evidence-based guidelines to achieve effective, patient-centered communication in the areas of cancer and palliative care. Written by an outstanding panel of international experts, it integrates empirical findings with clinical wisdom, draws on historical approaches and presents a state-of-the-art curriculum for applied communication skills training for the specialist oncologist, surgeon, nurse, and other multi-disciplinary team members involved in cancer care today.

In this book, communication is broken down into key modules that cover the life-cycle of cancer care. They include coverage of diagnosis and treatment including clinical trials, empathic support in response to distress, transition to survivorship or palliative therapies, discussion of prognosis, conduct of family meetings, and care of the dying. Complementary training of patients in their communication with the doctor completes the interactive dyad. The art of teaching, impact of gender, and power in the consultation and the ethical context are carefully considered.

Special communication challenges include discussion of genetic risk, rehabilitative and salvage surgery, promotion of treatment adherence, unanticipated adverse outcomes, intercultural issues, fertility, and sexuality. The value of decision aides, question prompt lists, audio-recording of consultations, and use of the internet is illustrated.

By looking across the full spectrum of disciplins involved in the multidisciplinary team, discipline-specific issues are considered by experts in each field. In this manner, the needs of patients and their relatives are evaluated, including paediatric and geriatric populations. To achieve all of this, theoretical models are examined from the medical school to the highly specialized practice, facilitation training and actor training are made explicit, and international approaches to communication skills training are compared and contrasted. Finally, research tools that assist in coding cancer consultations, evaluating training courses, and employing mixed methods in studies aid the reader in providing clear and sensitive communication when handling challenging situations while treating cancer sufferers and palliative care patients.