| Title |
All eyes on the patient: the influence of oncologists’ nonverbal communication on breast cancer patients’ trust
|
|---|---|
| Published in |
Breast Cancer Research and Treatment, July 2015
|
| DOI | 10.1007/s10549-015-3486-0 |
| Pubmed ID | |
| Authors |
Marij A. Hillen, Hanneke C. J. M. de Haes, Geertjan van Tienhoven, Nina Bijker, Hanneke W. M. van Laarhoven, Daniëlle M. Vermeulen, Ellen M. A. Smets |
| Abstract |
Trust in the oncologist is crucial for breast cancer patients. It reduces worry, enhances decision making, and stimulates adherence. Optimal nonverbal communication by the oncologist, particularly eye contact, body posture, and smiling, presumably benefits patients' trust. We were the first to experimentally examine (1) how the oncologist's nonverbal behavior influences trust, and (2) individual differences in breast cancer patients' trust. Analogue patients (APs) viewed one out of eight versions of a video vignette displaying a consultation about chemotherapy treatment. All eight versions varied only in the oncologist's amount of eye contact (consistent vs. inconsistent), body posture (forward leaning vs. varying), and smiling (occasional smiling vs. no smiling). Primary outcome was trust in the observed oncologist (Trust in Oncologist Scale). 214 APs participated. Consistent eye contact led to stronger trust (β = -.13, p = .04). This effect was largely explained by lower educated patients, for whom the effect of consistent eye contact was stronger than for higher educated patients (β = .18, p = .01). A forward leaning body posture did not influence trust, nor did smiling. However, if the oncologist smiled more, he was perceived as more friendly (r s = .31, p < .001) and caring (r s = .18, p = .01). Older (β = .17, p = .01) and lower educated APs (β = -.25, p < .001) were more trusting. Trust was weaker for more avoidantly attached APs (β = -.16, p = .03). We experimentally demonstrated the importance of maintaining consistent eye contact for breast cancer patients' trust, especially among lower educated patients. These findings need to be translated into training for oncologists in how to optimize their nonverbal communication with breast cancer patients while simultaneously managing increased time pressure and computer use during the consultation. |
X Demographics
The data shown below were collected from the profiles of 23 X users who shared this research output. Click here to find out more about how the information was compiled.
Geographical breakdown
| Country | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Netherlands | 10 | 43% |
| United States | 2 | 9% |
| Canada | 2 | 9% |
| Unknown | 9 | 39% |
Demographic breakdown
| Type | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Members of the public | 15 | 65% |
| Scientists | 7 | 30% |
| Science communicators (journalists, bloggers, editors) | 1 | 4% |
Mendeley readers
The data shown below were compiled from readership statistics for 103 Mendeley readers of this research output. Click here to see the associated Mendeley record.
Geographical breakdown
| Country | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 1 | <1% |
| Spain | 1 | <1% |
| Unknown | 101 | 98% |
Demographic breakdown
| Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Student > Master | 15 | 15% |
| Student > Bachelor | 14 | 14% |
| Researcher | 8 | 8% |
| Student > Ph. D. Student | 8 | 8% |
| Student > Doctoral Student | 8 | 8% |
| Other | 22 | 21% |
| Unknown | 28 | 27% |
| Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Medicine and Dentistry | 22 | 21% |
| Psychology | 12 | 12% |
| Social Sciences | 10 | 10% |
| Nursing and Health Professions | 9 | 9% |
| Computer Science | 4 | 4% |
| Other | 13 | 13% |
| Unknown | 33 | 32% |
Attention Score in Context
This research output has an Altmetric Attention Score of 49. This is our high-level measure of the quality and quantity of online attention that it has received. This Attention Score, as well as the ranking and number of research outputs shown below, was calculated when the research output was last mentioned on 24 May 2018.
All research outputs
#747,945
of 23,313,051 outputs
Outputs from Breast Cancer Research and Treatment
#73
of 4,707 outputs
Outputs of similar age
#9,824
of 263,926 outputs
Outputs of similar age from Breast Cancer Research and Treatment
#3
of 84 outputs
Altmetric has tracked 23,313,051 research outputs across all sources so far. Compared to these this one has done particularly well and is in the 96th percentile: it's in the top 5% of all research outputs ever tracked by Altmetric.
So far Altmetric has tracked 4,707 research outputs from this source. They typically receive a little more attention than average, with a mean Attention Score of 7.2. This one has done particularly well, scoring higher than 98% of its peers.
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We're also able to compare this research output to 84 others from the same source and published within six weeks on either side of this one. This one has done particularly well, scoring higher than 97% of its contemporaries.