Journal: Journal of clinical oncology : official journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology
This publication is an updated clinical practice guideline from ASCO on communication in cancer care.
It was developed by a multidisciplinary expert panel (oncology, hematology, nursing, palliative care, communication, and advocacy) using a systematic review of 73 publications (54 systematic reviews, 19 randomized trials) from 2016–2025 and a formal consensus process with two voting rounds.
Key points:
- Scope: Guidance on effective communication throughout the cancer care continuum, aiming to optimize:
- • Patient–clinician relationship
- • Patient and clinician well-being
- • Caregiver well-being
- Core content:
- • Foundational communication skills and tasks relevant across all stages of cancer care
- • Best practices for:
- • Discussing goals of care and prognosis
- • Treatment selection conversations
- • End-of-life discussions
- • Involving and supporting the patient’s family/support network
- • Training clinicians in communication skills
- New areas in this update:
- • Communication via telehealth
- • Interprofessional communication within the care team
- • Boundary setting to support clinician sustainability and well-being
- Implementation:
- • Each recommendation is paired with suggested strategies for real-world application.
- • The guideline emphasizes that effective communication requires system-level support: sufficient time, structured training, and institutional resources.
The document is intended as evidence-informed guidance to be used with clinical judgment, not as a mandatory standard of care.