Interviewing cancer patients in a research setting: the role of effective communication

A case-control study of quality of life in patients with lung cancer was carried out. The investigation was conducted by means of a series of interviewer-administered instruments. As part of the study, patients' attitudes towards the interviewer-administered questionnaires were studied. Previously we reported that a high proportion of the patients found being interviewed acceptable. The present study firstly examines why patients found being interviewed acceptable and secondly investigates whether there is an association between gender, age, diagnosis, place of interview, patients' overall health status, global quality of life and patients' feelings. Two hundred and thirty-two patients attending an outpatient clinic with either lung cancer or chronic respiratory disease were interviewed by means of a short questionnaire. They were asked to indicate their feelings about interviews, and to explain the reasons why they had their particular feelings. We documented issues on communication between interviewers and patients. These include observations on interviewing cancer patients, interviewing at home, and interviewing in the clinic. Nearly all the patients (96%) indicated that they found being interviewed acceptable. A content analysis of data showed that patients' feelings can be attributed to four major themes: the interview was not disturbing, they felt relaxed and at ease, they liked to talk, and the interview was conversational. There were no significant association between gender, age, diagnosis (cases and controls), place of interview, patients' overall health status and global quality of life and the reasons expressed. Practical experience from interviewing patients at home or in the clinic reveals several issues on communication between interviewer and patients. The study results suggest that apart from communication factors, other parameters such as age, gender, diagnosis, overall health status and quality of life and interview setting do not have significant role in patients' feelings about interviews. If data on quality of life studies are to be collected by interviewers, then proper communication is essential. How to achieve this remains a major question.