Communication in physician-patient relationship: a cancer patient's perspective

The doctor-patient communication is a complex process which includes three variables: context, the process of communication and outcomes in patients' health. Particularly, the oncology setting is so anxious to patient, the research in this area, the point of view of patient, emerge because the disagreements between the doctors'and oncological patients' reports. Three issues guide organization of the review: expectations/preferences, perceptions, and emotions of patient evoked by consultation with oncologist. Predictors of patient perception also are summarized, mentioned key points in the process of communication and some practice implications.