Audiotaping the Oncology Consultation: An Intervention to Increase Patient Satisfaction

Abstract

he first visit of a cancer patient to an oncologist is often accompanied by anxiety, disbelief, and fear-powerful emotions that can reduce a patient's ability to hear what the physician is saying. If patients misinterpret or forget important informacion, both their health care and their relationship with their doctor may suffer. Ineffective physician/patient communication has been linked to increases in malpractice suits. I Audiotaping the initial consultation allows patients to review the visit in a less stressful situation, f, with family members or riends who can help them understand what was said. Taping may also create more effective communication between patient and physician. A review of the research on audiotaping during oncology consultations suggests that patients' reactions to the practice vary.! While audiotapes reduce the anxiety of some patients,' for others reliving the office visit actually increases their stress.' Nevertheless, most studies show that patients like having a tape of their consultation