Oncologist approaches to communicating uncertain disease status in pediatric cancer: a qualitative study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Most patients with cancer and their caregivers desire honest, clear prognostic communication, yet oncologists often disclose prognosis inconsistently. Prognostic communication becomes even more challenging when disease progression is unclear or equivocal. Presently, oncologist approaches for discussing uncertain disease findings are poorly understood.

Methods

In this prospective, longitudinal study, we audio-recorded serial disease reevaluation conversations between children with high-risk cancer, their families, and their primary oncologists over 24 months and conducted content analysis at recorded timepoints when oncologists categorized disease progression as equivocal.

Results

Of the 265 medical discussions recorded across the illness course for 33 patie

SUBMITTER: Porter AS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9620648 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature