Communication with Cancer Patients in Family Medicine

Abstract

Family medicine is the point of first medical contact within the healthcare system. Patient perspective and patient-centered communication are very important in family medicine. Family physicians assess the illnesses and complaints presented to them, dealing personally with most, serve as the patients’ advocate, explaining the causes and implications of illness to the patients and their families, serve as an adviser and confidant to the family. BATHE (background, affect, trouble, handling, empathy) is a method for communication in family medicine while practicing bio­psychosocial medicine. The communication process with cancer patients in the daily practice of family physicians will be evaluated in this chapter. © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2013.