An international study of clinical, demographic and competence-related determinants of communication with professionals

Abstract

Purpose: This study aims to identify the clinical and demographic determinants of patients’ communication with professionals in an international sample of cancer patients. Methods: Cancer patients completed EORTC communication questionnaire QLQ-COMU26 to assess ten areas of communication with their doctor or nurses plus another item to assess how competent they felt when communicating with professionals. Bivariable analyses and multivariable linear regression models were performed separately for each QLQ-COMU26 area. Results: 988 patients from 15 centres in 13 countries (five cultural areas) were included in the study. Higher age was related to higher level of communication in eight QLQ-COMU26 areas. Males reported higher level of communication in three areas. Lower levels of studies and a higher level of perceived competence when communicating with professionals were related to higher level of communication in the ten QLQ-COMU26 areas. Communication was of a higher level with nurses than with doctors in four areas. Having received previous treatment with the same doctor or group of nurses was related to higher communication levels in seven areas. Lack of comorbidity was related to higher communication levels in two areas. Various differences in determinants were found among tumour sites Conclusion Our regression model has shown several relationships between communication and the demographic and clinical variables that may help to identify patients at risk of poor communication. Future studies could focus on communication at diagnosis and in follow-up, and on areas such as assessing the particularities of communication between patient and professionals in relation to each cancer type.