Background and aim - Somatic and mental health and stress factors of physicians became an issue of growing interest in both national and international researches. Our aim is to give an overviewing analysis of Hungarian physicians’ mental health state. Methods - Representative, cross-sectional, quantitative survey on a representative sample of Hungarian physicians (n=4784). The control group was formed by the population group of a national survey conducted by “Hungarostudy 2013” (n=2000). Results - Suicidal thoughts (18.8% vs. 9.6%, p<0.001), the scores of Somatic Symptom Scale (PHQ-10, 20.4% vs. 13.6%, p<0.001) were significantly higher among physicians. The suicidal attempts (1.9% vs. 3.5%, p=0.053) and BDI depression scores (7.9% vs. 29.5%, p<0.001) were significantly higher in the control group. High Perceived Stress Scale (PPS) scores occurred in 43.3% of the physicians sample, and 43.4% of them had high scores in the Athenian Insomnia Scale (AIS). The young (<35) female physicians showed significantly higher rates of suicidal thoughts, higher scores of PHQ and PPS. In the young female cohort, the AIS scores were significantly higher than of the other physicians. Conclusions - Mental health of physicians (sleep disorders, suicidal thoughts and psychosomatic symptoms) showed poorer results than the population data. BDI scores and the rate of suicidal attempts showed favourable trends. The next step in the physicians’ mental health researches is to investigate the most decisive risk factors, and to work out the prevention tools.

[The move to shared decision model from the patriarchal model of doctor-patient relationship is a communication challenge for doctors and patients as well. Communication is extremely important in Oncology, because the suggestive effect of every action of doctors and nurses is outstanding in this fi eld of healthcare. This burden has to urge professionals to self-improvement. One of the most important success of the Doctor-Patient Relationship program of the Hungarian Hospice Foundation since its launch in 2014 is the statement of two clinical centres on the importance of communication skills in everyday praxis, and engaging themselves in self-improvement. The successful cooperation also depends on patients and their care-givers not just on professionals. To gain all the necessary information is a learning process for them; even as to fi nd out the depth of information and decision level they wish. The patient who is satisfied with his or her own communication in healthcare is less distressed than the one who feels like adrifting. That gives the sense of achievement to professionals as well.]

[INTRODUCTION - Satisfying sleep is especially important for physicians. Our study analyses physicians’ sleep and dream from the point of view of continuous nightand- day duty. SAMPLE AND METHOD - Questionnaires were completed by 125 physicians among whom the proportion of night shift taking and only day-time working persons was equal. The questionnaire contained the Athens Insomnia Scale and the Dream Quality Questionnaire as well as questions about demographical characteristics and work circumstances. RESULTS - Almost each doctor mentioned sleep problems, principally daytime sleepiness (78%) and sleep deprivation (70%). Long sleep latency is reported more often by women doctors; the frequency of night awakenings increases, while daytime sleepiness decreases by age. The feeling of performance-loss is more prevalent among night shift takers. Dream characteristics differ significantly neither along demographical characteristics nor by work shifts. CONCLUSION - Although sleep problems are more frequent among physicians when comparing to the Hungarian general population, the frequency of clinical level insomnia is not higher. On the other hand, physicians can recall their dreams more often (25% vs 7%) and the emotional load of their dreams influence their daytime mood more commonly.]

[In the past 40 years the progressively growing fi eld of psychooncology has played an increasing role in the multidisciplinary practice of oncology. In this review methods for identifying and treating cancer patients’ psychological challenges will be summarized. Effective psychological interventiones will be discussed, and two methods especially devised for supporting cancer patients (Simonton Training and Mindfulness Based Cancer Recovery) will be introduced. We also deal with the communication traits that affect the doctor-patient relationship, the mental challenges that affect doctors dealing with terminally ill patients, burnout and its prophylaxis.]

[Consulting the specia­list means face-to-face meetings traditionally. Nowadays patients do not need to go to the outpatient clinic to see the doctor since many new communication options have already been available. The aim of our study was to explore how typically doctors and patients use other options (as phone call or e-mail) beside face-to-face appointments in the outpatient clinic. We conducted a focus group interview with specialists and health workers and an in-depth interview with the chief nurse of an outpatient clinic in Budapest. The specialist-patient consultation is mostly face-to-face in the specialist’s office in the presence of the nurse, whose role is complex and pivotal. Fur­ther­more, the landline phone is an essential device, as the patients can reach the specialist or nurse in their office hours. The application of e-mail or mobile phone is incidental. The website of the outpatient clinic provides practical information to patients. Traditional postal letters, leaflets, and publications are also typical for providing information. The doctors’ opinion was rather heterogeneous about the pa­tients’ Internet usage and about the on­line contact with patients. Beside increasing the capacities the deliberate and organized introduction and application of technical de­vices, may reduce the overburdening of health professionals.]