TABLE 3.

Summary of “Good News” and “Action-Oriented” Concepts of “Treatable”

Element of Concept	“Good News” Concept	“Action-Oriented” Concept
Speaker’s intent	Physician says “treatable” to convey a positive	Physician says “treatable” to convey that an
	message.	intervention exists or can be offered.
Definition	There is good news for the patient’s future.	The physician has a clinical action (intervention) available.
General characteristics	Everyday language.	Technical language.
	Focused on patient’s future life and experience.	Focused on physician action.
Details	Positive implications for prognosis and/or quality	No fixed implications for prognosis or quality of life:
	of life:	Intervention may not aim to improve prognosis.
	Cure or potential cure.	Intervention may not aim to improve quality of life.
	Survival.	Intervention may have a low probability of success.
	Increased length of life.
	Maintenance or improvement in quality of life.
	Carries implications for emotions and	May convey a significant limitation of the intervention:
	decision-making:	Can treat, but not cure, a disease.
	There’s hope.	Can treat a discrete problem but not alter the overall
	Physician intends to help patient.	clinical picture.
	Patient must follow physician’s plan.
Impact of treatment	Treatment substantially improves a patient’s life	Treatment may not improve the patient’s overall
	or experience (“helps” the patient).	trajectory (may not “help” the patient).