Philosophy leading the way: An interdisciplinary approach to study communication of severe diagnoses.

This paper explores a brand-new interdisciplinary approach applied to an enduring problem: the communication of severe diagnoses. The moment when physicians explain the diagnosis to patients and their relatives is sensitive, particularly for a disease that is rarely diagnosed early. The first part of the article is dedicated to the context of this delicate doctor-patient interaction. With this framework in mind, the paper delves into the innovative interdisciplinary methodology developed in the pilot study Communi.CARE, conducted in a hospital in Northern Italy, which focuses on the diagnosis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). SARS-CoV-2 impact on the study development is highlighted. The study aims to explore the topic by combining different areas of expertise, including medicine, philosophy, sociology, and psychology. The contribution of philosophy is here presented as essential: it has a leading role in the conception of the study, its development, and the elaboration of results. It is shown throughout the study, from methodology to the analysis of results. Strengths and weaknesses of the methodology are discussed. In conclusion, further philosophical considerations on effective and ethical communication in this delicate context are recommended.

It's "Classical Advice!" Why Medical Education Should Go Beyond Science.

This article is a reflection on a new (but ancient) definition of medicine, which considers doctors and patients alike from their complex human experiences. It explores the doctor-patient relationship as well as the practice of medicine itself through an historical lens, by examining some of the scholarship of Galen of Pergamum, the ancient Greek doctor and philosopher of the second century CE. The intention is not to give a new, definite answer, but to use an example from the past to look at the matter from a different, perhaps unusual, perspective.

Communication, understanding and engagement of patients with pancreatic cancer at time of diagnosis.

BACKGROUND: Objectives: To investigate communication clarity and understanding at the time of pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC) diagnosis and whether they can influence patient engagement and compliance. METHODS: Consecutive PDAC patients were enrolled at the time of diagnosis after obtaining informed consent in a single-center study. The patients completed a validated scale (PHE-s®), and the understanding rate was assessed using standardized tools. Patient compliance was evaluated, and the correlation between the PHE-s®, understanding, and compliance was calculated. RESULTS: Thirty patients were enrolled (15 female) with a mean age 64.4, 13 were metastatic. The mean visit time was 31 min, being longer if visiting doctor was an oncologist (p = 0.002). The engagement level was high in 70% of the patients, and all but one were compliant. The analysis of doctor-patient interactions showed a median of 121 conversational turns for doctors, 75 for patients, and 20 for caregivers (p < 0.0001), and the median percentage of speaking time was 77% for doctors, 13% for patients, and 2% for caregivers (p < 0.0001). Female caregivers spent more time speaking than did male caregivers (median 11.6% vs. 1.3%; p = 0.06). There were 290 instances of problematic understanding, most of which occurred during the taking of patients' personal medical history for doctors, while for patients and caregivers, these occurred mainly during the discussion of diagnosis/treatment (p < 0.0001). In a multivariable analysis, only origin from central or southern Italy was associated with high engagement (p = 0.0087). CONCLUSION: In this first attempt to measure clarity of communication and engagement in patients with PDAC, typical features of conversation and problematic understanding emerged, which deserves further investigation.

Implicit understandings and trust in the doctor-patient relationship: a philosophy of language analysis of pre-operative evaluations.

The aim of this paper is to enhance doctors' awareness of implicit understandings between doctors and patients in the context of pre-operative communication of risks. This paper draws on insights from the philosophy of language - in particular pragmatic analysis tools - that make explicit the implicit understandings of the interaction. Mastering not only what is said but also what is unsaid allows doctors to improve their communication with their patients. I suggest that being aware of the implications of the interactions is useful for improving both the doctor's and the patient's experience, further strengthening the therapeutic alliance. In this article I analyze actual cases involving pre-operative evaluation before cardiac surgery from a philosophy of language perspective. The paper is structured as follows: a description of the relevant philosophy of language tools that I will apply; an overview of the risk-communication context; an explanation of the link between "the implicit dimension" and trust, addressing whether the doctor needs to convey the whole truth; and the analysis of real cases. In conclusion, I re-emphasize the importance of implicit meanings during risk communication.

COMMUNI.CARE (COMMUNIcation and Patient Engagement at Diagnosis of PAncreatic CAncer): Study Protocol.

Background: In many cases of pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC), the diagnosis comes as a surprise to the patient, who often faces a disease that is already at an advanced stage, with poor prognosis. The clinical visit during which the diagnosis is communicated together with the first information regarding the planned treatments is of paramount importance. We hypothesize that the clarity of such information can influence patients' engagement and thus their level of compliance. Aims: This study aims to collect (a) quantitative data on the level of PDAC patient engagement, (b) data on the rate of understanding of the information received from the doctor, and (c) data on level of compliance; the possible associations between these variables will be analyzed. Methods: This is a single-center, observational, cross-sectional cohort study on patients diagnosed with PDAC, approved by the Ethics Committee of the San Raffaele Hospital. As no preliminary data are available on the association between PDAC patients' understanding rate and their level of engagement and of compliance, no power calculation is possible. This is a pilot study, aimed at enrolling at least 45 PDAC patients during a period of 3 months. Conclusion: COMMUNIcation and Patient Engagement at Diagnosis of PAncreatic CAncer (COMMUNI. CARE) will be the first study specifically investigating whether there is a relation between PDAC patients' engagement, rate of understanding at the time of diagnosis, and compliance.