Vnitr Lek 2019, 65(5):359-362 | DOI: 10.36290/vnl.2019.064

Communication with cancer patient

Jana Halámková^1,2,*, Ondřej Sláma¹, Dagmar Adámková Krákorová¹, Regina Demlová^3,4, Josef Kuře²

¹ Klinika komplexní onkologické péče LF MU a MOÚ, Brno

² Ústav lékařské etiky LF MU, Brno

³ Farmakologický ústav LF MU, Brno

⁴ Oddělení klinických hodnocení MOÚ, Brno

The oncological patients meet the diverse physicians in the different stages of their illness. It is important for other physicians to know a basic rules of supportive effective communication. There are big differences between patients in the communication style and type of information they accept. Patient's information requirements may also change at various stages of the disease. Providing bad news is a frequent and important communication challenge for physicians. Internationally recognized and proven recommendation for communication is the six steps known as the SPIKES. Prolonging survival of cancer patients means not only communicating disease information but also information about irreversible and potentially irreversible side effects of treatment, disease complications, and limited prognosis. The communication skills are not inborn and do not necessarily improve with the clinical experience, this skill should be learned through structured communication training. It's the effective communication that lets talk sensitively about serious facts in the time-limited consultation.

Keywords: communication; oncology patient; SPIKES

Received: September 10, 2018; Accepted: November 29, 2018; Published: May 1, 2019  Show citation