The Complexities of Doctor-Patient-Family Communication in an Asian Oncology Setting: Concordance and Discordance Among Patient Preferences, Family Preferences, and Perceived and Actual Communication

This article reports on a pilot study that examined the complexities of doctor-patient-family communication in an oncology setting in Singapore. Twenty consultation visits were audio-recorded and a postconsultation questionnaire was administered to patients and their accompanying person (AP) to examine their communication preferences. Patients and APs rated physician expertise and message content as highly important; supportive elements of the communication were rated as less important. Patients preferred information concerning their condition, while APs preferred information regarding treatment options. There was discordance between what was perceived by the patient/AP and actual delivery, and within patient-AP dyads. Our findings elucidate some of the complexities in communication preferences in an Asian oncology context that can inform clinical practice.