Julie Trudel, BA, MSc, PhD

Introduction: Communication between patients and healthcare providers is recognized as an important aspect of the quality of life of cancer patients.
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CENTRE DE RECHERCHE DE ST.MARY PRÉSENTE ST. MARY’S RESEARCH CENTRE PRESENTS

Presentation of study results / Présentation des résultats de l'étude

Perceived communication between breast cancer patients and healthcare providers in relation to the patients’ health-related quality of life along the disease’s trajectory: A longitudinal study By

Julie Trudel, BA, MSc, PhD Post-doctoral student, McGill University Health Center

DATE ET HEURE / DATE AND TIME

Jeudi le 20 octobre 12:00 à 13:00 Thursday October 20, 12:00 to 13:00 ENDROIT / LOCATION

Locale 2750 (Pavillon Hayes / Annexe) / room 2750 (Hayes Pavilion, Annex) Centre hospitalier de St. Mary / St. Mary’s Hospital Center

Un léger dîner sera servi / A light lunch will be served

Bienvenue à tous / Everyone is welcome

ABSTRACT Introduction: Communication between patients and healthcare providers is recognized as an important aspect of the quality of life of cancer patients. Nevertheless, no study has examined whether perceived communication between healthcare providers (doctors, nurses, technicians in radiology) and breast cancer patients could be a determining factor in explaining their quality of life along the disease's trajectory. Objective: The main objective is to ascertain whether communication between breast cancer patients and healthcare providers influence the quality of life of these women at diagnosis, during radiotherapy and at follow-up. Methods: The sample consisted of 120 French-speaking women with stage I or II breast cancer, aged 18 years and over (55 years ± 9,5) and who underwent a lumpectomy. They filled out questionnaires three times: Around the diagnosis period, during half-way of radiation therapy and between three and four months after radiation. They completed in 60 minutes, either at the hospital or at home, a questionnaire pertaining to demographic and medical data, the MOS SSS, the EORTC QLQ-C30/BR23, and the MCCS scale. Results: GEE analyses indicate that women's perceptions of their communication skills towards doctors had a great impact on their healthrelated quality of life. The women had better role and emotional functioning as well as fewer side effects and symptoms during radiotherapy and at follow-up when they perceived themselves as competent communicators towards doctors in oncology (surgeons and radio-oncologists) at diagnosis and during radiotherapy. Conclusion and implication: The results of the study underscore the importance for breast cancer patients to be proactive so that they can feel competent with regards to the seeking of information and the socio-emotional aspect of the relation between them and their doctors in order to enhance their health-related quality of life.