A diagnosis of cancer places considerable stress on patients and requires them to make major adjustments in many areas of their lives. As a consequence, considerable demands are placed on health care providers to satisfy the complex care needs of cancer patients. Currently, there is little available information to indicate the extent to which cancer patients are satisfied with the quality of care they receive. The present study assessed the perceptions of 232 ambulatory cancer patients about the importance of and satisfaction with the following aspects of care: doctors technical competence and interpersonal and communication skills, accessibility and continuity of care, hospital and clinic care, nonmedical care, family care, and finances. The results indicate that all 60 questionnaire items used were considered to reflect important aspects of care, but that greater importance was given to the technical quality of medical care, the interpersonal and communication skills of doctors, and the accessibility of care. Most patients were satisfied with the opportunities provided to discuss their needs with doctors, the interpersonal support of doctors, and the technical competence of doctors. However, few patients were satisfied with the provision of information concerning their disease, treatment, and symptom control and the provision of care in the home and to family and friends. Cancer 66:610-616,1990.
OR MANY CANCER PATIENTS, particularly the large F number who are incurable at diagnosis,' the disease, its treatment, and its consequent ramifications causes considerable stress to themselves and their families.2 Cancer patients commonly experience unpleasant and debilitating side effects of treatment,3 uncertainty about the nature, course, and prognosis of the d i ~e a s e , ~ reduced ability to control their own lives,5 increasing dependence on others, and disruption of family, work, and social They also may have a need to find some meaning in their experiences,* a fear of pain, rejection by loved ones, difficulties in adjusting to the possibility of dying, and concern about the future of their family.' In short, the ex-