Special aspects of medical communication in the field of pediatric oncology focusing on palliative care

Relation between the treating physician, the child with cancer and his/her parents is decisive in the field of pediatric oncology. Medical communication plays a crucial role in this relation. The quality of communication is particularly emphasized during the phase of palliative care in the case of children with incurable malignant disease. The proper medical communication during pediatric palliative care is subject of intensive research which is hindered by the sensitivity of the topic and the difficulties with inclusion of parents whose child has been lost or receiving palliative treatment and of health-care providers, respectively. In the present work, we review the publications focusing on palliative care in the field of pediatric oncology. Despite extensive research, only few investigations focus on the practical aspects of medical communication. Reports on the effectiveness of practical implementation of the existing theories are lacking. Drawing general conclusions is highly hindered by socio-cultural differences, including the diverse parental expectations towards doctors in different cultural and religious settings. However, there is a general agreement that early, simultaneous integration of palliative care at the time of diagnosis sharing is crucial. With the current knowledge, it is essential to conduct further research in this field considering the different socio-cultural backgrounds as well.