Doctor–Patient communication and cancer patients’ quality of life and satisfaction

Background: Compliance with medication in patients who have suffered stroke is usually not-optimal. This study aims to measure the level of compliance with the treatment and to identify socio-demographic, clinical, and subjective factors related to the long-term compliance of stroke patients with their treatment. Methods: 140 patients (66.4% males) suffered an ischemic stroke at least six months old, participated in the survey. Compliance was measured using the Medication Adherence Report Scale and the quality of life by the Stroke Specific Quality of Life questionnaire. Furthermore, the Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire and the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire on perceptions about the disease were assessed. The doctor–patient relationship was assessed by the Common-Sense Model of Self-Regulation questionnaire and the family support was assessed by the FSS scale. Univariate and multivariate analysis was employed to identify the significant factors affecting compliance in these stroke patients. Results: In 68.6% of patients the compliance was classified as optimal, in 25.7% as partial and as poor in 5.7%; the last two categories were treated as sub-optimal compliance in multivariate analysis. The high compliance was related to patient’s mental state (OR:3.94 95% CI: 1.84–4.46), the perception medication necessity (OR:1.26 95% CI: 1.01–1.56), and the doctor–patient communication (OR:1.76 95% CI: 1.15–2.70). Men showed a lower compliance than women, as well as increased concerns about taking medication (OR: 0.83, 95% CI: 0.69–0.99). Paradoxically, the work /productivity related quality of life was inversely associated with compliance (OR (95% CI): 0.44 (0.23 to 0.82)). Conclusions: The perception of medication necessity and the doctor–patient communication are manageable factors associated with compliance in treating patients who have suffered stroke. In addition, rehabilitation and return to work programs should consider these factors when providing support to those persons.

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Influence of migrant background on patient preference and expectations in breast and gynecological malignancies (NOGGO-expression V study): results of a prospective multicentre study in 606 patients in Germany

BMC Cancer ◽

10.1186/s12885-021-08731-6 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

D. Dimitrova ◽

B. Naghavi ◽

R. Richter ◽

S. Nasser ◽

R. Chekerov ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Intercultural Competence ◽

Medical Staff ◽

Online Survey ◽

Patient Communication ◽

Doctor Patient Communication ◽

Migrant Background ◽

Gynecological Malignancies

Abstract Background An effective cross-cultural doctor-patient communication is vital for health literacy and patient compliance. Building a good relationship with medical staff is also relevant for the treatment decision-making process for cancer patients. Studies about the role of a specific migrant background regarding patient preferences and expectations are lacking. We therefore conducted a multicentre prospective survey to explore the needs and preferences of patients with a migrant background (PMB) suffering from gynecological malignancies and breast cancer to evaluate the quality of doctor-patient communication and cancer management compared to non-migrants (NM). Methods This multicentre survey recruited patients with primary or recurrence of breast, ovarian, peritoneal, or fallopian tube cancer. The patients either filled out a paper form, participated via an online survey, or were interviewed by trained staff. A 58-item questionnaire was primarily developed in German and then translated into three different languages to reach non-German-speaking patients. Results A total of 606 patients were included in the study: 54.1% (328) were interviewed directly, 9.1% (55) participated via an online survey, and 36.8% (223) used the paper print version. More than one quarter, 27.4% (166) of the participants, had a migrant background. The majority of migrants and NM were highly satisfied with the communication with their doctors. First-generation migrants (FGM) and patients with breast cancer were less often informed about participation in clinical trials (p < 0.05) and 24.5% of them suggested the help of an interpreter to improve the medical consultation. Second and third-generation migrants (SGM and TGM) experienced more fatigue and nausea than expected. Conclusions Our results allow the hypothesis that training medical staff in intercultural competence and using disease-related patient information in different languages can improve best supportive care management and quality of life in cancer patients with migrant status.

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