Descriptive study about patient remember after diagnosis and prognosis communication in Oncology

Abstract

The communication doctor – patient plays a fundamental role in their relationship. Bad communication can imply a negative influence between patient and his family. The aim of this work is to obtain better insight in the process of the information that is contributed by the medical oncologist and to check whether the patients remembers this information after fifteen days. The information we present corresponds with the second phase of the “descriptive study on the process of communicating the diagnosis and the prognosis in oncology”. Cohort consisted in 71 cancer patients, who remembered the initial interview and performed a second one. The results obtained show that data collection is depending on the complexity of the transmitted information as well as of its emotional impact; which means that, the simpler and the more emotional impact, better to remember. Therefore this information supports the idea that communication is an evolutionary and continuing process, and is not limited to certain situations, being able to attend the needs both of the patient and his family, facilitating the patient a better adaptation to the oncological disease.