Oncologists' Communication About Uncertain Information in Second Opinion Consultations: A Focused Qualitative Analysis.

ABSTRACT: Introduction: Uncertainty is omnipresent in cancer care, including the ambiguity of diagnostic tests, efficacy and side effects of treatments, and/or patients' long-term prognosis. During second opinion consultations, uncertainty may be particularly tangible: doubts and uncertainty may drive patients to seek more information and request a second opinion, whereas the second opinion in turn may also affect patients' level of uncertainty. Providers are tasked to clearly discuss all of these uncertainties with patients who may feel overwhelmed by it. The aim of this study was to explore how oncologists communicate about uncertainty during second opinion consultations in medical oncology. Methods: We performed a secondary qualitative analysis of audio-recorded consultations collec

SUBMITTER: van Someren JL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8201772 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature