Patient perceptions of physician compassion measured

Cancer patients perceived a higher level of compassion and preferred physicians when they provided a more optimistic message in a clinical trial that used videos with doctors portrayed by actors, according to a study published online by JAMA Oncology.

Information about and prognosis is essential for patient decisions at the end of life. Physicians frequently have difficulty delivering bad news and many physicians find this process stressful and demanding, according to the study background.

Eduardo Bruera, M.D., of the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, and coauthors examined patient perceptions when actors depicting physicians delivered a more optimistic message that included the possibility of future treatment compared with an equally empathetic but less optimistic message that included information about the lack of further treatment options. The study included 100 patients with advanced cancer at an outpatient supportive care center in Houston.

Patients reported scores reflecting higher physician compassion after viewing the more optimistic video compared with the less optimistic video. More patients (57 percent) preferred the physician delivering the more optimistic message, 21 percent of patients had no physician preference and 22 percent preferred the physician with the less optimistic message, according to study results.

"Our findings suggest that extra support is needed for patients and families and extra care is necessary from physicians when the news is less optimistic as physicians face a challenge to deliver honest prognostic information while still preserving hope. ... Further research and educational techniques in structuring less optimistic message content would help support professionals in delivering bad news, as well as decreasing the burden of feeling less compassionate in these instances. At the same time, improved delivery of treatment and prognostic information would enable patients to make a more informed decision," the study concludes.

More information: JAMA Oncol. Published online February 26, 2015. DOI: 10.1001/jamaoncol.2014.297

Citation: Patient perceptions of physician compassion measured (2015, February 26) retrieved 29 March 2024 from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2015-02-patient-perceptions-physician-compassion.html
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