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SUMMARY
A one day interactive workshop was conducted to explore communication issues between health professionals and patients about cancer. Small group sessions were used to explore communication issues implicit in belief statements that appeared counter to prevailing scientific and clinical norms that had been collected through community focus groups. Socio-behavioral and communication theories were used to explore community and professional differences. The results confirmed issues about communication styles, cultural differences in beliefs and experiences with cancer, and how the general public learns about cancer and cancer care. A second day of the workshop analyzed data collected from the first day and produced consensus statements on strategies to improve communication.
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FINDINGS
8.1 Communication between health professionals and patients about cancer is less than satisfactory, from both sides.
8.2 Improved education is needed for new and current health professionals regarding effective communication that stresses two-way communication and dialog and works from the patient’s knowledge base (not assumed level of understanding). Stories and story telling should be recognized as important in this region.
8.3 Public education efforts are falling short because of a lack of recognition of regionally relevant culture, language, and expectations.
8.4 Patients should be encouraged that it is okay to ask questions and to ask to be seen as part of the interdisciplinary care team.
8.5 Dramatic presentations like Life’s Circle are a powerful method to share cancer survivor experiences. This approach favorably impressed both providers and community members.
8.6 Blending community members, practicing health care providers, and agency health professionals in small groups is a useful means of analyzing content and intent of cancer messages.
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