Improving Communication Between Cancer Patients and Physicians

Benjamin Levy, of Mount Sinai Hospital, explains why patient-physician communication is so important when dealing with cancer, especially lung cancer, and what his hospital is doing to improve it.

"We've received a grant for a project looking at how to optimize conversations between doctors and patients," he says. The grant will involve training physicians on how to best to relay bad news, how to empathize, how to deliver palliative care discussions, and more. Another group of physicians will carry on as usual and act as a control group.

"We're looking at patient-reported outcomes," he says. "How satisfied were patients with the conversations they've had with their doctors."

Levy hopes that the results from this study will help to ultimately improve patient care.