Cancer patients’ trust in their oncologist

In this thesis we aimed to unravel cancer patients’ trust in their oncologist. We investigated patients’ explanations of trust in-depth, and developed an oncology-specific questionnaire to assess trust. Using the resulting Trust in Oncologist Scale, we experimentally established the influence of oncologist communication on trust. Specifically, patients report stronger trust if the oncologist expresses medical competence, communicates in an open and honest manner, and conveys involvement and care. The results provide firm evidence for the importance of oncologist communication for the establishment of trust. The work described in this thesis provides methodological leads for researchers of physician-patient communication. Moreover, our findings provide specific practical handles for use in oncology practice and physician training, which may eventually contribute to better patient care.