Cancer patient satisfaction with care

A diagnosis of cancer causes stress on patients and results in major adjustments in many aspects of their lives. Health care providers are required to fulfill the complex care needs of cancer patients. There is limited information about the degree of satisfaction felt by cancer patients concerning the quality of health care they receive. Two hundred and thirty-two cancer patients were surveyed about their perceptions of the importance and their satisfaction with certain aspects of health care. These aspects included the competence and interpersonal communication skills of physicians, the accessibility and continuity of care, hospital and clinical care, nonmedical care, family care, and finances. The technical quality of medical care, the interpersonal and communication skills of doctors, and accessibility of care were considered to be the most important aspects of medical care. Patients were generally satisfied with the opportunities to discuss their needs with the physician, the interpersonal support of doctors, and with the technical competence of doctors. Patients were not satisfied with the availability of information concerning their disease, treatment and control of symptoms, provision for home care, and care for family and friends. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)