Table 3.
All patients
| Item and number of SPIKES STEP | Patients’ preference | Reality | Test statistics | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entirely (%) | M (SD) | Entirely (%) | M (SD) | z | r | n | |
| Ensure an undisturbed atmosphere STEP 1 | 92.1 | 1.09 (0.33) | 73.0 | 1.36 (0.68) | − 6.02*** | − 0.05 (n.s.) | 313 |
| Take enough time STEP 1 | 96.9 | 1.04 (0.26) | 85.2 | 1.21 (0.56) | − 4.80*** | 0.03 (n.s.) | 315 |
| Explain the details of the disease comprehensible and in detail STEP 1 | 93.7 | 1.08 (0.32) | 84.6 | 1.23 (0.62) | − 4.57*** | 0.24*** | 317 |
| Give the patient enough possibilities to ask questions STEP 1 | 95.3 | 1.05 (0.26) | 85.8 | 1.21 (0.58) | − 4.83*** | 0.31*** | 317 |
| Reassure if the patient can understand everything STEP 1 | 88.4 | 1.13 (0.40) | 78.6 | 1.30 (0.68) | − 4.53*** | 0.34*** | 314 |
| Ask for the patient’s previous knowledge and what she further wants to know STEP 2 | 71.4 | 1.43 (0.75) | 30.8 | 1.88 (1.04) | − 5.18*** | 0.24*** | 196 |
| Ask about the patient’s concerns STEP 2 | 78.6 | 1.28 (0.60) | 32.7 | 1.83 (1.04) | − 6.90*** | 0.44*** | 201 |
| Announce the conversation STEP 3 | 44.7 | 1.47 (0.76) | 44.3 | 1.50 (0.97) | − 0.43 (n.s.) | 0.13 (n.s.) | 200 |
| Inform that he has to deliver bad news at the beginning of the talk STEP 3 | 39.9 | 1.66 (0.91) | 29.9 | 1.96 (1.16) | − 3.58*** | 0.28*** | 190 |
| Characterize the diagnosis in all clarity STEP 4 | 87.1 | 1.15 (0.46) | 48.4 | 1.34 (0.67) | − 3.85*** | 0.31*** | 206 |
| Characterize the expected course of disease in all clarity STEP 4 | 54.1 | 1.24 (0.53) | 41.2 | 1.51 (0.79) | − 4.74*** | 0.31*** | 207 |
| Try to be empathic STEP 5 | 83.0 | 1.20 (0.47) | 77.7 | 1.29 (0.61) | − 2.40* | 0.20*** | 314 |
| Show interest in the patient’s feelings STEP 5 | 78.6 | 1.26 (0.56) | 70.4 | 1.41 (0.73) | − 2.89** | 0.26*** | 312 |
| Show compassion STEP 5 | 64.5 | 1.50 (0.75) | 40.3 | 1.52 (0.78) | − 1.07 (n.s.) | 0.24*** | 204 |
| Give the patient the possibility to show his/her feelings during the conversation STEP 5 | 54.7 | 1.22 (0.53) | 40.9 | 1.55 (0.86) | − 5.38*** | 0.42*** | 201 |
| Inform about effects of the disease on life circumstances STEP 6 | 56.3 | 1.18 (0.48) | 38.1 | 1.69 (0.97) | − 6.82*** | 0.36*** | 202 |
| Inform about possible therapies STEP 6 | 88.4 | 1.11 (0.43) | 77.0 | 1.34 (0.74) | − 4.73*** | 0.07 (n.s.) | 301 |
| Inform about alternative treatment methods STEP 6 | 66.0 | 1.50 (0.84) | 23.9 | 2.52 (1.36) | − 8.71*** | 0.42*** | 188 |
| Involve the patient in further planning STEP 6 | 79.9 | 1.19 (0.47) | 41.8 | 1.56 (0.90) | − 6.21*** | 0.18* | 190 |
Highest ratings of patients’ preferences compared with experienced reality
*p < 0.05
**p < 0.01
***p < 0.001