Effective communication of Prognosis at the Cochin Cancer Research Centre

Volume 4 - Issue 5

PK Prem Ravi Varma*

Received: February 03, 2020;   Published: February 13, 2020

DOI: 10.32474/RRHOAJ.2020.04.000197

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Abstract

One of the most important skills in medicine is communication. It lies at the heart of the doctor-patient relationship and is particularly important when one has been diagnosed with a potentially life-threatening condition. Words are powerful and too often can be interpreted in ways not intended. This is a discussion on the concept of shared decision making, and how it can be used when there is uncertainty in what treatments may (or may not) accomplish. Finally, the discussion on the skills that constitute a toolkit for communication, which hopefully can be tailored to meet the variable needs of those we are caring for and by doing so, can be of help to clinicians in their own practices.

Overview| Introduction| Common Strategies for Dealing with Prognosis: Realism, Optimism, and Avoidance| A Better Alternative: How Much Patients Want to Know| A Roadmap for Conversations: the Opening Question| Assessing Communication Effectiveness| Areas Addressed in Asco Patient-Clinician Communication Guideline| References|