Communicating With Patients on Cancer Resistance to Treatment: the Development of a Communication Tool. (HECTOR)

Although a challenge, better communicating around resistance to treatment carries many potential benefits. Indeed, in similar contexts of announcement of bad news and choice of care, Parker and collaborators (1) have highlighted the positive impact of individualized care, respecting the needs, quality of care, and quality of life of patients. Given the clinical stake, and the lack of scientific knowledge devoted to communication in the context of resistance to treatment, it appears necessary to better understand its modalities. In this perspective, research has proven the value of tools for supporting communication, including the issue of question booklets for patients. These tools provide patients with a list of questions submitted to them before the medical consultation, and which they can ask during the consultation, and throughout the treatment. This tool fosters communication by helping the patient obtain a level of information that is adapted to his or her needs and experience, and thus, to be better prepared for care. Despite significant interest for these booklets in the field of oncology, none has yet been developed in the specific context of resistance to treatment.