Empathic Exploration of Burden — SCE Palliative Medicine MCQ

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ModerateCommunication & EthicsEmpathic Exploration of BurdenSCE Palliative Medicine

A 72‑year‑old man with advanced cancer tells his palliative care doctor, “I feel like I am a burden on my wife.” Rather than dismissing or reassuring, what therapeutic communication technique should be used?

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Correct answer: A — Empathic exploration as the preferred next step

Option A is correct. The patient’s statement reflects existential distress—feeling burdensome—which should be met with empathic exploration using open‑ended questions to understand the meaning of his feelings. The RUH handbook specifically advises exploring what's important to patients and includes prompts around avoiding being a burden. NICE guidance on patient experience supports the use of open questions and sensitive listening to patient concerns. Option C dismisses the patient’s emotion and risks invalidating his experience. Option E prematurely pathologises the feeling without understanding its context. Option D avoids the emotional content, which damages rapport. Option B inappropriately brings in another person and may breach confidentiality and inhibit the patient’s own processing.

Reference: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/conditions-and-diseases/cancer/palliative-care