Résumé :
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[BDSP. Notice produite par INIST R0xjw1qs. Diffusion soumise à autorisation]. Context Improving health-related quality of life (HRQL) is an important goal of palliative treatment, but little is known about actual patient-physician communication regarding HRQL topics during palliative treatment. Objectives To investigate the content of routine communication regarding 4 specific HRQL issues between oncologists and their patients and to identify patient-physician-and visit-specific factors significantly associated with discussion of such issues. Design Observational study conducted between June 1996 and January 1998. Setting Outpatient palliative chemotherapy clinic of a cancer hospital in the Netherlands. Participants Ten oncologists and 240 of their patients (72% female ; mean age, 55 years) who had incurable cancer and were receiving outpatient palliative chemotherapy. Main Outcome Measures Patient and physician questionnaires and audiotape analysis of communication regarding daily activities, emotional functioning, pain, and fatigue during an outpatient consultation using the Roter Interaction Analysis System. Results Physicians devoted 64% of their conversation to medical/technical issues and 23% to HRQL issues. Patients'communication behavior was divided more equally between medical/technical issues (41%) and HRQL topics (48%). Of the independent variables investigated, patients'self-reported HRQL was the most powerful predictor of discussing HRQL issues. (...)
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