We describe a protocol for disclosing unfavorable information-"breaking bad news"-to cancer patients about their illness. Straightforward and practical, the protocol meets the requirements defined by published research on this topic. The protocol (SPIKES) consists of six steps. The goal is to enable the clinician to fulfill the four most important objectives of the interview disclosing bad news: gathering information from the patient, transmitting the medical information, providing support to the patient, and eliciting the patient's collaboration in developing a strategy or treatment plan for the future. Oncologists, oncology trainees, and medical students who have been taught the protocol have reported increased confidence in their ability to disclose unfavorable medical information to patients. Directions for continuing assessment of the protocol are suggested.

Background: Few studies have assessed the efficacy of communication skills training for postgraduate physician trainees at the level of behaviors. We designed a residential communication skills workshop (Oncotalk) for medical oncology fellows. The intervention design built on existing successful models by teaching specific communication tasks linked to the patient's trajectory of illness. This study evaluated the efficacy of Oncotalk in changing observable communication behaviors. Methods:Oncotalk was a 4-day residential workshop emphasizing skills practice in small groups. This preintervention and postintervention cohort study involved 115 medical oncology fellows from 62 different institutions during a 3-year study. The primary outcomes were observable participant communication skills measured during standardized patient encounters before and after the workshop in giving bad news and discussing transitions to palliative care. The standardized patient encounters were audiorecorded and assessed by blinded coders using a validated coding system. Before-after compari-sons were made using each participant as his or her own control.

Effective communication skills enable physicians to improve patients' understanding of their illnesses, improve patient adherence to treatment regimens, use time efficiently, avoid burnout, and increase professional fulfillment. Common communication pitfalls include blocking, lecturing, depending on a routine, collusion, and premature reassurance. Cancer J Clin 2005;55:164 -177.)

In recent years, there has been increasing emphasis on understanding how the cancer experience affects individuals' quality of life (QOL). The goal of this study was to assess the QOL and to identify psychosocial predictors of QOL among a large sample of patients with a variety of cancers. Specifically, we assessed the unique contribution of demographic variables, medical variables, and social support on patients' QOL and psychological adjustment. Three hundred and fifty-one participants completed measures of social support, depression, anxiety, and QOL at their follow-up medical visits. Analyses indicated that patients who were older and had better social support reported less anxiety (p<0.001), and patients who were older, married or who had more social support reported less depressive symptoms (p<0.01). Men, individuals whose cancer had not recurred, and those not undergoing active treatment reported better QOL in the physical health domain (p<0.05). Patients who were older, married, with more formal education, less advanced disease, and better social support reported better QOL in the mental health domain (p<0.05). Demographic variables (age, gender, marital status, education) were generally associated with measures of adjustment and QOL whereas medical variables (time since diagnosis, recurrence status, treatment variables, stage of disease) were not. Patients with more support reported less anxiety and depression and better QOL in the mental health domain, independent of demographic and medical variables. Assessing patients' level of social support may help to identify patients at risk for distress.

Purpose To provide guidance to oncology clinicians on how to use effective communication to optimize the patient-clinician relationship, patient and clinician well-being, and family well-being. Methods ASCO convened a multidisciplinary panel of medical oncology, psychiatry, nursing, hospice and palliative medicine, communication skills, health disparities, and advocacy experts to produce recommendations. Guideline development involved a systematic review of the literature and a formal consensus process. The systematic review focused on guidelines, systematic reviews and meta-analyses, and randomized controlled trials published from 2006 through October 1, 2016. Results The systematic review included 47 publications. With the exception of clinician training in communication skills, evidence for many of the clinical questions was limited. Draft recommendations underwent two rounds of consensus voting before being finalized. Recommendations In addition to providing guidance regarding core communication skills and tasks that apply across the continuum of cancer care, recommendations address specific topics, such as discussion of goals of care and prognosis, treatment selection, end-of-life care, facilitating family involvement in care, and clinician training in communication skills. Recommendations are accompanied by suggested strategies for implementation. Additional information is available at www.asco.org/supportive-care-guidelines and www.asco.org/guidelineswiki .