Patient-oncologist working alliance and its relation to locus of control.

Objectives: In this study, we assessed the patient-oncologist relationship, conceptualized as the working alliance from a dyadic perspective, and its relation to locus of control.

Methods: One hundred and three oncologist-patient dyads were recruited. Measures included a sociodemographic and medical questionnaire; the "internal, powerful others, and chance" locus of control scale; and the working alliance inventory.

Results: Application of the actor-partner interdependence model yielded 2 actor effects: a positive association between oncologist "internal" locus of control and oncologist working alliance, and a negative association between oncologist "chance" locus of control and oncologist working alliance. It also yielded one partner effect: a positive association between oncologist "internal" locus of control and patient working alliance.

Significance Of Results: The actor-partner effect suggests that oncologists' locus of control has a role in the establishment of the patient-oncologist working alliance; oncologists' internal locus of control is a dominant factor affecting not only their own perceived alliance but patients' perceived alliance as well.