Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Encounters with doctors: quantity and quality.

S D Smith1, K M Nicol, J Devereux

  • 1Marie Curie Centre Fairmile, Edinburgh, UK.

Palliative Medicine
|September 4, 1999
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Combinatorial (bio-geo-temporal) and non-combinatorial analysis of the COVID-19 dissemination that affected Georgia (the country) in 2021.

Frontiers in public health·2026
Same author

Total Body Irradiation Versus Chemotherapy-Only Conditioning in Autologous Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation for Relapsed/Refractory Large B-cell Lymphoma.

Clinical oncology (Royal College of Radiologists (Great Britain))·2025
Same author

Multidimensional perspectives of geo-epidemiology: from interdisciplinary learning and research to cost-benefit oriented decision-making.

Frontiers in public health·2025
Same author

Correction to: Comparative Effectiveness and Durability of Biologics in Clinical Practice: Month 12 Outcomes from the International, Observational Psoriasis Study of Health Outcomes (PSoHO).

Dermatology and therapy·2024
Same author

Comparative Effectiveness and Durability of Biologics in Clinical Practice: Month 12 Outcomes from the International, Observational Psoriasis Study of Health Outcomes (PSoHO).

Dermatology and therapy·2023
Same author

Assessing complexity and dynamics in epidemics: geographical barriers and facilitators of foot-and-mouth disease dissemination.

Frontiers in veterinary science·2023
Same journal

Understanding workplace peer support among healthcare assistants providing palliative and end-of-life care at home: A realist review.

Palliative medicine·2026
Same journal

Exploring Pathways to Optimise Care in malignant bowel obstruction (EPOC): A realist review of shared decision-making with people with advanced cancer and severe symptoms.

Palliative medicine·2026
Same journal

Caregivers' perspectives on family meetings and preparedness for imminent death: A qualitative descriptive study in a palliative care setting.

Palliative medicine·2026
Same journal

Palliative care: The holy grail of healthcare interventions?

Palliative medicine·2026
Same journal

Social determinants of death anxiety in patients with advanced cancer receiving outpatient palliative care.

Palliative medicine·2026
Same journal

A Reflexivity Lab as a methodological tool in end-of-life research.

Palliative medicine·2026
See all related articles

Cancer patients encounter a high number of doctors, averaging 32, impacting continuity of care. This study highlights challenges in communication and patient experience due to fragmented healthcare professional involvement.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Health Services Research
  • Patient Experience

Background:

  • Continuity of care is a significant concern for patients and families navigating cancer treatment.
  • The increasing number of healthcare professionals involved in patient care raises questions about communication and consistency.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To quantify the number of doctors cancer patients encounter during their care journey.
  • To explore patient perspectives on their interactions with these healthcare professionals.

Main Methods:

  • A mixed-methods approach was used, combining descriptive statistics with qualitative thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews.
  • Fifty cancer patients were surveyed regarding the number of doctors they met over varying treatment durations (4 months to 26 years).

Related Experiment Videos

Main Results:

  • Patients encountered a median of 32 doctors, with a range from 13 to 97.
  • Patients with less than one year of care history met an average of 28 doctors.
  • Qualitative analysis revealed key themes including continuity of care, information provision, honesty, doctor's manner, and referral issues.

Conclusions:

  • The high number of doctors involved in cancer care presents a substantial barrier to seamless communication and consistent patient management.
  • Addressing fragmentation in care delivery is crucial for improving the patient experience and ensuring effective cancer treatment.