One of the latest podcasts online from International Program of Psycho-Social Health Research (IPP-SHR) focuses on the way in which doctor's communication can actually influence a number of things. Geraldine Leydon who recently published an article; 'Yours is potentially serious but most of these are cured': optimistic communication in UK outpatient oncology consultations, in the journal "Psycho-Oncology"(2008, vol. 17, issue 11.), talks with Michael Bouwman about her recent study and article. Geraldine found that oncologists use communication patterns, known as the 'power of approximateness' and give the 'bad' news first, followed by 'better' news, known as the 'pairing phenomenon'. Communication studies show that people respond to the last thing said in a conversation; so in cancer consultations patients are more likely to pick up and comment on the 'good' information and move on from the 'bad'. Oncologists found that how to be honest with a patient, but not destroy hope, was actually one of the most difficult and stressful challenges faced when communicating with cancer patients.
NSW Health staff can access the article via CIAP.
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