Effect of Physician Attire on Patients' Preference of Physician

Advanced Cancer Patients' Perception of Physician Compassion and Professionalism - A Randomized, Double Blind, Cross Over Trial

The goal of this research study is to learn about the effects of a doctor's characteristics on participant's preference for a doctor. Researchers also want to learn about how a doctor's characteristics affect participant's options about professionalism and compassion.

If participant agrees to take part in this study, participant will be asked to complete 7 questionnaires. These questionnaires ask about participant's gender, date of birth, ethnicity, marital status, level of education, religion, and information about the disease and treatments participant received. Participant will also be asked about any symptoms participant may be having, how much trust participant has in the medical profession in general, how participant feels about the disease, any depression or anxiety participant may have, and participant's level of hopefulness. These questionnaires should take about 6 minutes to complete.

Participant will be shown 2 videos (each 3 minutes long) and then participant will complete questions about each video. Participant will be asked to rate the doctors participant saw on their professionalism and their compassion.

Caregivers will be required to leave the room or stay silent while the participant is watching the videos.

The total time to watch the videos and complete the second set of questionnaires should be about 7 minutes.

Finally, participant will be asked to complete 3 questionnaires about participant's overall preference for a doctor. These questionnaires will take about 5 minutes to complete.

Length of Study Participation:

Participation in this study is complete after participant answers the final questionnaires.

Overall, this study should take about 30 minutes to complete.

This is an investigational study.

Up to 108 participants will be enrolled in this study. All will take part at MD Anderson.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Advanced cancer diagnosis (locally advanced, recurrent or metastatic disease).
2. Patients presenting as follow-ups only at the outpatient Supportive Care Center.
3. Age >/= 18 years-old
4. English speaking

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Altered cognition (as assessed routinely in the Supportive Care Clinic using the Memorial Delirium Assessment Scale (MDAS), with a score of >/= 7/30).
2. Patients suffering from a severe psychiatric disorder or condition that would significantly interfere with study participation.
3. Patients with hearing and/or visual impairments.