Cancer patients ’ needs for virtues and physicians’ characteristics in physician-patient communication: a survey among patient representatives

ConclusionCompetence, honesty, respect, and patience are important characteristics which should be focused on in communication training of medical students and physicians. In spite of compassion being rated as less important, training on compassion/empathy might help doctors to improve coping with the continuous confrontation with complications, progress, suffering, and death of their patients.
Source: Supportive Care in Cancer - Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research