Oncologist/Patient Communication Survey

The ESMO Oncologist/Patient communication survey is designed by the Palliative Care Working Group (PCWG) to evaluate the important issue of communication between oncologists and patients with advanced cancer in regards to: 

• Evaluation of communication practices between physicians and patients suffering from advanced cancer
• Evaluation of attitudes impacting communication dynamics and the decision-making process within the setting of life-threatening illness
• Identification of factors that impact communication styles and attitudes towards communication, taking into account the variables of geography, age, sexual experience and education

Goal

• Identifying and understanding the strengths, weaknesses, inequalities, and areas of necessary improvement in the field and practice of oncologist/patient communication
• Gaining a better understanding of the critical communication issues so that it is possible to address such topics in a manner that is sensitive and appropriate to the cultural heterogeneity of the ESMO members and patients
• Establishing further evidence of the need of reliable data on how oncologists handle delicate and crucial communication issues
• Understanding key differences and appropriate use of communication styles such as paternalism vs. democratic collaboration, candor vs. non-candor (protective concealment) and patient focus vs. family focus

Source

• The Palliative Care Working Group (PCWG) prepared the questionnaire. 
• Completed surveys will be analyzed by professional, external statisticians. 

Publication and distribution  

On the Internet  

• Freely available from the ESMO Web site