Processes of communication, information seeking and control associated with cancer: A selective review of the literature

This paper examines the literature pertaining to the processes of communication associated with malignant disease in the hospital setting. The central questions considered are: what do doctors tell cancer patients and why, and how much do patients want to know and how do they obtain information? Previous research is shown to be inadequate for a full comprehension of these processes and several ways in which new evidence may be sought are suggested.