Abstract
Objectives: We aimed to characterize the relationships between breast cancer patient mood symptom severity and demographic/medical factors with clinical communication about mood, and to explore mood discussion content. Methods: 134 breast cancer patients (mean age=58.3; 14% minority; 13% metastatic) had oncology clinic visits audio-recorded, transcribed, and coded for mood communication. Patient Care Monitor assessed mood symptoms (anxiety/depression presence/severity). Logistic regressions measured associations between mood, demographic/medical factors, and communication. Thematic analysis characterized discussion topics. Results: Over half of patients (55%; n = 73) reported mood symptoms. Worse mood symptoms were associated with younger age and current treatment (p's < 0.05). 19% of clinic visits (n = 26/134) contained mood discussions. Discussions were more common for younger women and those with non-metastatic disease (p's < 0.05). Odds of discussing mood increased with symptom severity (OR=4.52, p = 0.018). Cancer-related anxiety and medication management were among the most common topics discussed. Conclusions: Communication about mood occurred infrequently, with women currently undergoing treatment, with metastatic disease, or with mild mood symptoms at potentially increased risk for inadequate discussion. Both patient-focused and provider-focused interventions to improve clinical communication about mood symptoms could be beneficial. Practice implications: Clinicians hold a key role in supporting cancer patients’ well-being by using and encouraging effective communication about patients’ mood.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 2089-2095 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Patient Education and Counseling |
Volume | 105 |
Issue number | 7 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jul 2022 |
Keywords
- Breast cancer
- Clinical communication
- Distress
- Mood
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Ross, PhD, ScM, E. A. (Director), Devarajan, PhD, K. (Staff), Zhou, PhD, Y. (Staff), Zhou, MSE, PhD, Y. (Staff), Egleston, PhD, MPP, B. (Staff), Hasler, PhD, J. S. (Staff) & Zhang, PhD, L. (Staff)
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