Prognostic disclosure theory in oncology communication holds that questions about survival time (e.g., "how long do I have to live?") are frequently emotionally rather than informationally motivated, and that effective clinical communication requires validating and addressing the underlying emotion and establishing relational trust before delivering prognostic content. When content is delivered, the theory favors qualitative time ranges (e.g., best-case/worst-case/most-likely scenarios) over precise numerical estimates, given the well-documented unreliability of individual physician prognostication, framed within a patient-centered, shared decision-making model that aligns treatment goals with the patient's personal values. This belongs to the field of clinical communication skills within oncology/palliative care medical education.
Prognostic disclosure theory in oncology communication holds that questions about survival time (e.g., "how long do I have to live?") are frequently emotionally rather than informationally motivated,…