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Talking about cancer: how much is too much?

M L Slevin

    British Journal of Hospital Medicine
    |July 1, 1987
    PubMed
    Summary

    Physician discomfort with serious illness and death can hinder patient communication. Addressing doctors' own emotional responses is key to improving these sensitive discussions and patient care.

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    Area of Science:

    • Medical Communication
    • Palliative Care
    • Psychology in Medicine

    Background:

    • Physicians may struggle with discussing serious illness and end-of-life issues.
    • Unresolved personal feelings about mortality can lead to physician discomfort.
    • This discomfort can negatively impact patient-physician communication.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To explore the challenges physicians face when discussing serious illness and dying.
    • To identify how physicians' personal feelings influence these conversations.
    • To reflect on strategies for resolving communication problems in end-of-life care.

    Main Methods:

    • Qualitative reflection on physician experiences.
    • Analysis of communication barriers in serious illness discussions.
    • Exploration of emotional impact on medical practice.

    Main Results:

    • Physician embarrassment and unease are significant barriers.
    • Lack of personal acceptance of mortality exacerbates communication difficulties.
    • Patient-physician dialogue suffers due to unresolved physician emotions.

    Conclusions:

    • Physicians need to address their own feelings about illness and death.
    • Improved self-awareness can enhance communication skills.
    • Resolving emotional barriers is crucial for effective palliative and end-of-life patient care.
    Keywords:
    Professional Patient Relationship

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