Information to and communication with cancer patients: improvements and psychosocial correlates in a comprehensive care program for patients and their relatives.

Between 1987 and 1989, 177 cancer patients who were to receive intensive chemotherapy with curative intention, participated in a comprehensive care project with the aim of improving their total situation, and that of their relatives (n = 120). A number of steps were taken to improve, among other things, the information to, and communication with, patients and their relatives. Compared with a pre-project evaluation in 54 patients and 24 relatives, significantly lower problem scores were seen in most aspects relating to interaction with medical staff. Strong associations were seen between, on the one hand, various aspects of patient- and relative-staff interaction and, on the other, psychosocial problems, although they were weaker for problems relating to information, than for communication and control problems.