How doctors communicate bad news in ovarian cancer
Author Information
Author(s): Kirwan J M, Tincello D G, Lavender T, Kingston R E
Primary Institution: Liverpool Women's Hospital
Hypothesis
How well do doctors document the communication of a cancer diagnosis to patients?
Conclusion
The study found that many patients with ovarian cancer are not adequately informed about their diagnosis and prognosis.
Supporting Evidence
- 94.7% of patients had their diagnosis recorded.
- 20.6% had their prognosis documented.
- 67.3% had further treatment recorded.
- 10.3% of cases showed evidence of collusion in communication.
Takeaway
When doctors tell patients they have cancer, they often don't use the word 'cancer' and sometimes don't write down important information.
Methodology
The study reviewed hospital records of patients diagnosed with epithelial ovarian cancer and analyzed the documentation of communication regarding diagnosis and prognosis.
Potential Biases
There may be bias in how information was recorded, as some patients were not present during discussions about their diagnosis.
Limitations
The study relied on the accuracy of hospital records, which may not reflect the actual communication that took place.
Participant Demographics
Patients were primarily women diagnosed with epithelial ovarian cancer, with a mean age of 62.7 years.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.002
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Want to read the original?
Access the complete publication on the publisher's website