A new guideline from ASCO published by Gilligan et al in the Journal of Clinical Oncology outlines best practices for cancer clinicians when communicating with patients and their loved ones. The Patient-Clinician Communication: American Society of Clinical Oncology Consensus Guideline recommendations emphasize the importance of strong provider-patient relationships to more effectively support patients.
“Clinicians face a monumentally difficult task: to guide patients on what may be the scariest and most unpleasant journey of their lives. We need to preserve their hope while at the same time giving them accurate information,” said Timothy Gilligan, MD, FASCO, Co-Chair of the ASCO Expert Panel that developed the guideline. “Helping oncology clinicians improve their communication skills ultimately helps patients, and that is what is most important.”
Expert Panel and Recommendations
ASCO convened a panel of medical oncology; psychiatry; nursing; hospice and palliative medicine; and communication skills experts, along with experts in health disparities and advocacy, to develop the consensus-based recommendations. The panel conducted a systematic review of medical literature published from January 1, 2006, through October 1, 2016.
Key guideline recommendations include:
“The guideline is both patient-centered and relationship-centered. It underscores that an important skill for each provider is to understand the patient as an individual and their families' unique needs,” said Walter F. Baile, MD, Co-Chair of the ASCO Expert Panel that developed the guideline. “The recommendations can help doctors form a trusting relationship with patients that is characterized by empathy, honesty, and a human connection with the patient and family.”
The content in this post has not been reviewed by the American Society of Clinical Oncology, Inc. (ASCO®) and does not necessarily reflect the ideas and opinions of ASCO®.