Second opinions in oncology: the experiences of patients attending the Sydney Cancer Centre.

Objective: To investigate the frequency, goals and outcomes of second-opinion consultations at the Sydney Cancer Centre.

Design, Setting And Participants: A questionnaire-based study of patients who registered to see a medical oncologist at the Sydney Cancer Centre between January 2006 and January 2008 and who were seeking a second opinion.

Main Outcome Measures: Proportion and demographic characteristics of patients who had previously seen a medical oncologist and who stated they were seeking a second opinion.

Does age really matter? Recall of information presented to newly referred patients with cancer.

Purpose: To examine age- and age-related differences in recall of information provided during oncology consultations.

Patients And Methods: Two hundred sixty patients with cancer diagnosed with heterogeneous cancers, seeing a medical or radiation oncologist for the first time, participated in the study. Patients completed questionnaires assessing information needs and anxiety.

Randomized controlled trial of a prompt list to help advanced cancer patients and their caregivers to ask questions about prognosis and end-of-life care.

Purpose: To determine whether provision of a question prompt list (QPL) influences advanced cancer patients'/caregivers' questions and discussion of topics relevant to end-of-life care during consultations with a palliative care (PC) physician.

Patients And Methods: This randomized controlled trial included patients randomly assigned to standard consultation or provision of QPL before consultation, with endorsement of the QPL by the physician during the consultation. Consecutive eligible patients with advanced cancer referred to 15 PC physicians from nine Australian PC services were invited to participate.