How can communication by oncologists enhance patients' trust? An experimental study

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Communication Studies
• Patient Psychology

Background:

• Patient trust in oncologists is crucial for treatment adherence.
• The specific communication elements influencing this trust remain unclear.
• This study examines how oncologist communication affects patient trust.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of oncologist competence, honesty, and caring on cancer patient trust.
• To quantify the effect of these communication elements on trust.
• To explore secondary effects on treatment expectations and recommendations.

Main Methods:

• Development of eight videotaped oncologist-patient consultations (vignettes) with controlled communication variations.
• Random assignment of 345 cancer patients to view two vignettes.
• Multilevel analysis to assess the influence of competence, honesty, and caring on patient-reported trust.

Main Results:

• Enhanced oncologist communication of competence (β = 0.17), honesty (β = 0.30), and caring (β = 0.36) significantly increased patient trust (P < 0.001 for all).
• Caring communication demonstrated the strongest positive effect on trust.
• Honesty and caring communication also improved patients' expectations of treatment success and willingness to recommend the oncologist.

Conclusions:

• Oncologists can actively build patient trust through effective communication of competence, honesty, and caring.
• Caring communication is the most influential factor in establishing patient trust.
• Findings are directly applicable to clinical practice and communication skills training for oncologists.