Several factors contribute to communication gaps in cancer care:
1. Medical Jargon: Healthcare professionals often use technical terms that patients and their families may not understand. This can lead to confusion and misinterpretation of treatment plans and diagnoses.
2. Cultural and Language Barriers: Patients from diverse backgrounds may have different ways of understanding and discussing health issues. Language differences can further complicate effective communication.
3. Emotional Stress: The diagnosis of cancer can be overwhelming. Emotional stress may hinder a patient's ability to absorb and process information.
4. Health Literacy: Patients with low health literacy may struggle to understand medical instructions, leading to poor adherence to treatment protocols.
5. Systemic Issues: Time constraints during consultations, fragmented care, and lack of coordination among healthcare providers can result in incomplete or inconsistent information delivery.
