. 2009 Apr 23;18(1):121–130. doi: 10.1007/s00520-009-0638-y

Table 5.

Recommendations for patient-centred cancer care tested on patient with non-small cell lung cancer

	Alpha coefficient
Access
Patient receives all necessary diagnostic procedures within 21 days after his first visit to the specialist	0.87
Patient starts his treatment within 35 days after his first visit to the specialist	0.87
Follow-up
Patient knows which side effects to be aware of at home	0.78
Patient knows which activities are allowed at home
Patient knows when to contact the primary care doctor or specialist
Communication and respect
Specialist shows interest in the patient as a person
Patient and family involvement
Nurses involve family and friends during care and follow-up	0.85
Specialists involve family and friends during treatment and follow-up
Specialists share the decision making with the patient
Family and friends have opportunities to ask the specialists questions
Family and friends have opportunities to ask the nurses questions
Patient has opportunities to ask questions
Information
Patient receives information on all ten items if applicable^a	0.78
Patient receives written information on all applicable items^a
Patient receives clear answers from the specialists
Coordination: specialists
Patient knows how to reach the specialists	0.22
Patient knows being discussed in a multidisciplinary team of specialists
The specialists involved take care of the coordination
Coordination: oncology nurse(s)
An oncology nurse was present during the bad news consultation	0.68
Patient knows that nurses specialising in oncology exist
Patient knows how to reach the oncology nurse
Physical support
Patient gets support to control physical complaints such as pain, suffocation, nausea, blood coughs, tingling, weight loss and insomnia
Emotional support
Patient is offered contact with a companion in distress	0.67
Patient is asked about psychological complaints
Patient is asked whether has problems with living conditions
Specialist asks the patient about possible fear and mental state

^aAim and follow-up of diagnostic procedures, treatment options and pros and cons, treatment option ‘no active therapy’, estimation of possible course of illness, possible loss of weight during treatment and the importance of eating well, options for pain medication, options for anaesthesia in case of operation, opportunities for emotional support, companion in distress, possibility of a second opinion