Effect of providing cancer patients with the audiotaped initial consultation on satisfaction, recall, and quality of life: A randomized, double-blindstudy

Purpose: By means of a randomized double-blind study, the effect of providi ng taped initial consultations on cancer patients' satisfaction, recall, an d quality of life wets investigated Patients and Methods: Consecutive cancer patients referred to either the gy necology or medical oncology outpatient clinic were eligible. Initial consu ltations were audiotaped. Patients were either provided with the tape (expe rimental group) or not (control group). Baseline variables included sociode mographics, preferences for information, coping styles, and clinical charac teristics, Follow-up (after 1 week and 3 months) variables included attitud es toward the intervention, satisfaction, recall, and quality of life. Asse ssments took place through mailed questionnaires and telephone interviews. Results: Two hundred one patients were included (response, 71%), 105 in the experimental group and 96 in the control group. Most patients (75%) listen ed to the tape, the majority of which (73%) listened with others. Almost al l patients, bath in the experimental group (96%) and control group (98%) we re positive about the intervention. Expectations were confirmed; patients p rovided with the tape were more satisfied (P < .05) and recalled more infor mation (P < .01) than patients without the tape, The intervention did not h ave! an effect on quality of life. An interaction effect was found between tile intervention and patients' age on satisfaction with the taped consulta tion (P < .01) and recall of diagnostic information (P < .01); access to ta pes seems more helpful in enhancing satisfaction in younger patients and re call of diagnostic information in older patients. Conclusion: Cancer patients and their families value the taped initial cons ultation. This intervention enhances their satisfaction and improver their recall of information. Tapes seem more helpful in enhancing satisfaction in younger patients and recall of diagnostic information in older patients. ( C) 2000 by American Society of Clinical Oncology.