Are the patient preferences for communication related with personality variables? A multicentric study in a spanish cancer sample

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of the study was to describe the relationship between preferences for communication and socio-demographic, tumour-related, and personality variables in a sample of Spanish cancer patients. Methods: A sample of 168 cancer patients completed a set of questionnaires: (1) the Spanish adaptation of the Measure of Patients’ Preferences, which includes three scales: content (what and how much information is given), facilitation (setting and context variables) and support (emotional support during the interaction); (2) the Extroversion and Neuroticism scales from the EPQ-RS; (3) the EORTC QLQ-3.0; and (4) the HADS. Results: Regression analysis showed that the patients who scored highest on the Content scale were women, young people, those whose illness was in an advanced stage or who had received the diagnosis for the first time and those who scored high on the Extroversion scale. Patients who scored highest on the Support scale were those with a first diagnosis and those with high Extroversion scores. Women, with high Extroversion scores, scored higher on the Facilitation scale than did other patients. Conclusions: Personality, age, gender and cancer diagnosis experience are important variables to take into account when conducting studies of doctor-cancer patient communication.