Communication in pediatric oncology

Abstract

Introduction: Neoplasms are the second most frequent cause of death in the pediatric population. In Poland, approximately 1100-1200 new cases of malignant neoplasms are diagnosed annually. Communication is an extremely important factor in pediatric oncology care. Hence, more and more research on its functions, significance, but also barriers and limitations is being developed.  
Material, methods, purpose: The literature published in the PubMed scientific database was searched using the following keywords: communication, pediatrics, oncology in 2016-2022. The aim of this review is to show the barriers, functions, and the importance of communication in pediatric oncology for the therapeutic process.  
Results: Communication in pediatric oncology was shown to perform the following functions: building relationships, exchanging information, enabling the family to self-manage, making decisions, managing uncertainty, responding to emotions, providing validation, and supporting hope. It was also noted that high-quality communication is associated with parental peace, increased recognition and confidence in healthcare professionals. Parents who receive understandable prognostic information have found less regret, as well as a desire to maximize time spent together with their child. Research shows communication barriers on many levels, such as: lack of comfort in difficult topics, time pressure, or the lack of a common mental model of the team and excessive demands. However, knowing these limitations is crucial to improving and overcoming these barriers. 
Conclusions: Communication in pediatric oncology plays many fundamental roles and constitutes an important aspect of the therapeutic process. Accordingly, it is important to emphasize the development and improvement of healthcare professionals' communication skills. Doctors can use knowledge of communication functions to better understand and fulfill parents' communication needs.