BMJ  2004;328 (10 April), doi:10.1136/bmj.328.7444.0-a

Patients want trustworthy and caring doctors

Patients with cancer prefer their relationship with their doctor to be based on trust, care and respect, rather than on empowerment and shared decision making. In a qualitative study with 39 women with breast cancer, Burkitt Wright and colleagues (p 864) found that patients valued confidence in the ability of their doctors, their honesty, the ability to build a unique relationship, and their respect. Patients were not concerned about traditional communication skills of doctors, but valued forms of communication that are neglected in teaching and research such as respect for the patient's autonomy and conveying their expertise; they did not think that information on prognosis and choice was so important.

Credit: BSIP/CABY, VALENCE/SPL

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Relevant Article

Doctors' communication of trust, care, and respect in breast cancer: qualitative study

Emma Burkitt Wright, Christopher Holcombe, and Peter Salmon
BMJ 2004 328: 864. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]