How to assess thinking skills in cancer patients.

Abstract

This article emphasizes the importance of health care professionals assessing and working with the way cancer patients think. Health care professionals can help cancer patients think more effectively about the organic manifestations of their disease, problems that arise from the cancer experience, and problems unrelated to cancer, but which negatively influence their lives. Nine thinking skills areas are identified and described. Skills that health care professionals can use to assess patients' thinking, and to gain insight into their own thinking, are reviewed. In addition, suggestions are made for how patients can be helped to overcome thinking skills weaknesses and build their strengths so that they can optimize their chances of quality life.