Greene Michele G, Adelman Ronald D
Department of Health and Nutrition Sciences, Brooklyn College, 2900 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11210, USA.
Patient Educ Couns. 2003 May;50(1):55-60. doi: 10.1016/s0738-3991(03)00081-8.
Cancer is frequently a disease of older individuals. Communication between physicians and older patients about cancer prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment and care is complicated by a variety of factors including patients' beliefs, perceptions, and knowledge about cancer. In addition, other older patient factors such as possible sensory deficits, cognitive impairment, functional limitations and accompaniment by significant others to the medical encounter influence communication. Physicians' attitudes about aging may also affect recommendations for cancer screening, treatment regiments and care of older cancer patients. To understand communication as a complex, multidimensional human enterprise requires knowledge of older patients' lived experience of cancer and their need for honest and compassionate care. Research findings on physician-older patient communication about cancer need to be translated into medical education, training and practice to improve the care of the older cancer patient.
癌症常常是一种老年人群易患的疾病。医生与老年患者之间就癌症预防、筛查、诊断、治疗及护理进行的沟通，因多种因素而变得复杂，这些因素包括患者对癌症的信念、认知和知识。此外，其他一些老年患者因素，如可能存在的感官缺陷、认知障碍、功能受限以及在就医时有重要他人陪同，也会影响沟通。医生对衰老的态度同样可能影响针对老年癌症患者的癌症筛查建议、治疗方案及护理。要将沟通理解为一项复杂的、多维度的人类活动，就需要了解老年患者患癌的生活经历以及他们对诚实且富有同情心的护理的需求。关于医生与老年患者就癌症进行沟通的研究结果需要转化为医学教育、培训及实践，以改善对老年癌症患者的护理。
