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Factors Associated With Optimal Patient-Clinician Communication Among Cancer Survivors.
Keilan Johnson1, Catherine G Pratt1, Sofia W Viana1,2
1Cincinnati Research in Outcomes and Safety in Surgery (CROSS), Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.
Cancer Medicine
|July 1, 2026
Summary
Higher education and recent diagnosis are linked to better patient-clinician communication for cancer survivors. Understanding these factors improves care for survivors navigating their health journey.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Health Communication
- Patient Experience
Background:
- Effective patient-clinician communication is vital for cancer survivor well-being and outcomes.
- Limited research exists on patient-specific factors influencing communication quality for cancer survivors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify patient-specific factors associated with optimal clinician communication among cancer survivors.
- To analyze the impact of demographics and communication behaviors on patient-clinician interactions.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of survey data from the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) database.
- Logistic regression was employed to examine factors related to optimal communication.
- Data included responses from 1123 cancer survivors.
Main Results:
- Optimal communication was most frequently reported when patients asked questions (73%).
- Communication was poorest when addressing feelings of uncertainty (47%).
- Higher educational attainment and shorter time since diagnosis were associated with better communication experiences.
Conclusions:
- Educational level and time since diagnosis are key factors in patient-clinician communication quality for cancer survivors.
- While descriptive analyses showed variations across racial and ethnic groups, these factors were not independently associated with communication in adjusted analyses.
- Findings highlight areas for targeted interventions to improve communication for diverse cancer survivor populations.
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