[Cancer patients adherence and symptom management: the influence of the patient-physician relationship]

Appropriate management of cancer symptoms positively influences quality of life. Inappropriate symptom management, disease recurrence, co-morbidity and death result from lack of medication adherence. Factors influencing adherence are multidimensional and include personal attributes, knowledge and beliefs regarding the disease and medication, self-efficacy and social support. The patient-physician relationship is a significant factor of influence in patient medication adherence and ultimate positive outcomes. If patients are satisfied with the relationship, they are highly likely to comply with health provider advice. Improving patient-physician relationships can effectively promote patient medication adherence. In cancer pain management and adjuvant hormone therapy for breast cancer, regular follow-up examinations have a positive impact. The physician-patient relationship with regard to cancer patient satisfaction is a relatively new topic of discussion, and many implications are scarcely understood. However, the physician-patient relationship should not be ignored as a factor in cancer symptoms management, especially with regard to promoting compliance behavior.