The role of patient-physician relationship on health-related quality of life and pain in cancer patients

Abstract

Purpose: Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and pain are important supportive cancer care outcomes. The patient-provider relationship, a modifiable care experience, has been linked to healthcare outcomes; however, less is known about associations between patient-provider relationship and supportive care outcomes in cancer patients. We examined the role of multiple aspects of the patient-provider relationship in explaining patterns of HRQOL and pain among breast and lung cancer patients. Methods: Our analysis included 283 breast and lung cancer patients from two cancer centers. Clinical data and survey data on patient sociodemographic factors, physical and mental HRQOL, pain, and patient-physician relationship (i.e., doctor’s respectfulness, time spent with doctors, patient involvement in decision-making, satisfaction with care, and following doctor’s advice/treatment plan) were collected at baseline and during treatment. We estimated adjusted modified Poisson regression models to assess associations between patient-physician relationship factors and physical and mental HRQOL and pain. Results: Compared with patients reporting suboptimal respect from doctors, patients reporting optimal respect were less likely to report below average physical HRQOL (adjusted risk ratio (ARR), 0.73; 95%CI, 0.62–0.86), below average mental HRQOL (ARR, 0.71; 95%CI, 0.54–0.93), and moderate-to-severe pain (ARR, 0.53; 95%CI, 0.35–0.79). Patients reporting optimal involvement in care decision-making and patients who reported following their doctor’s advice/treatment plan were less likely to report below average mental HRQOL than their respective counterparts (ARR, 0.64; 95%CI, 0.50–0.83; ARR, 0.65; 95%CI, 0.48–0.86). Conclusion: Multiple patient-physician relationship factors account for variations in HRQOL and pain in cancer patients. These findings provide insight into potential targets for improving the patient-provider relationship and supportive cancer care outcomes.