Informing, communicating and sharing decisions with people who have cancer.

Effective Health Care s Current NHS policy emphasises the need for good communication between health professionals and patients. s The most common complaints made by people with cancer are about poor communication and inadequate information. s Patients cannot express informed preferences about their care, choose to be involved in decision-making, or indeed choose not to participate, unless they are given sufficient and appropriate information. s Health professionals need to know how best to elicit patients' need and readiness for information as well as their desire for involvement in decision-making. s Health professionals are likely to need training and support if patients' information needs are to be met. Key issues include: placing a higher priority on patient information; understanding patients' needs and preferences; and helping patients to access and understand relevant and appropriate information. This bulletin focuses on the communication, information giving and sharing of decisions between health professionals and people with cancer.