Objectives: Patient-physician communication can facilitate clinical decision making and improved health outcomes. Cancer patients have specific needs including mental health assessment. However, little is known about the relationship patient-physician communication and self-perceived mental health status. This study assessed the association between patient-physician communication and self-perceived mental health status among United States (US) adults with cancer.

Methods: Provider-physician communication was evaluated using four variables: being respected (respect), being listened to (listen), spending enough time with physician (time), and sufficient explanations (explain). Using 2019 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) data, we conducted four logistic regression models (respect, listen, time, explain) for good (vs. poor) mental health, adjusted for potential risk factors identified in the literature. Eligible individuals were alive, aged 18-84, reported data on patient-physician communication and mental status. Weighted estimates were analyzed while accounting for complex survey data. The a priori alpha level was 0.05.

Results: Among 25,374,384 individuals with cancer, 89.9% (95% confidence interval [CI]=87.6-90.9%) reported good perceived mental health while 9.1% (95%CI=9.1-12.4%) reported poor perceived health status. Typically, in all four models, patient-physician communication was not statistically associated with mental health status. Other factors associated with greater odds of reporting good mental health in all four models included: age 18-44 vs. 54-84 (adjusted odds ratio[AOR]=0.1, 95%CI=0.1-0.3), age 45-64 vs. 65-84 (AOR=0.6, 95%CI=0.4-0.9), low vs. high income level (AOR=0.4, 95%CI=0.2-0.6), no physical limitation vs. physical limitation (AOR=3.4, 95%CI=2.3-5.2), and no limitation from pain vs.limitation from pain (AOR=1.8, 95%CI=1.1-3.0).

Conclusions: Out of 25 million US adult cancer patients, about 2.2 million reported having poor self-perceived mental health. Although patient-provider communication was not associated with mental health status in this population, several factors were identified as risk factors for poor mental health. Further research is warranted to improve understanding of mental health status among US cancer adult patients.