Table 1.

Quality of communication scale

How good have the doctors been at:

1) Using words that you could understand.

2) Giving you information about your loved one’s illness and treatment.

3) Including you in decisions about your loved one’s illness and treatment.

4) Answering all of your questions about your loved one’s illness and treatment.

5) Listening to what you had to say.

6) Caring about you as a person.

7) Giving you his/her full attention.

8) Asking about the kinds of treatments your loved one would want if he/she could speak for him/herself.

9) Talking with you about your feelings that your loved one might get sicker or die.

10) Talking with you about when and how your loved one might get sicker or die.

11) Talking to you about how long your loved one might have to live.

12) Asking about the things in life that are important to your loved one.

13) Asking about your spiritual or religious beliefs.

14) Helping your family decide about the kinds of treatments your loved one would want.

15) Overall, how would you rate this doctor’s communication with you?