en Pediatric Hematology & Oncology Pediatric Hematology & Oncology پژوهشي Original Article <div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height:2;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Objective:</strong> Effective physician&ndash;patient communication varies across cultural contexts, ranging from paternalistic to collaborative models. In pediatric hematology/oncology, family-centered interactions are crucial due to children&#39;s developmental limitations and cultural expectations. Given the paucity of research in this area, this study aimed to explore the diverse communication styles adopted by pediatric hematologists/oncologists in Iran.<br> <strong>Materials and Methods: </strong>A phenomenological approach was employed to capture physicians&rsquo; lived experiences. Data were collected through 10 in-depth semi-structured interviews with pediatric hematology/oncology specialists. Analysis followed Van Manen&#39;s six-step framework, ensuring systematic interpretation of meaning. To enhance rigor and transparency, the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) guidelines were applied throughout the process.<br> <strong>Results: </strong>From 2,881 initial codes, 7 themes and 26 subthemes were identified. Communication styles emerged as a fluid spectrum including: paternalistic style (reflecting cultural expectations of authority), defensive style (minimizing legal responsibility), role-based style (emphasizing therapeutic duties and emotional distancing), informative style (transparent reporting and realism), shared decision-making style (often rendered superficial due to cultural constraints), hedonistic style (prioritizing patient satisfaction), and empathic-emotional style (emphasizing deep emotional connection).<br> <strong>Conclusion: </strong>Communication styles varied according to patient cognition, cultural beliefs, physician experience, and perceived legal risks. A key finding was the importance of preference match between physicians and families, as alignment produced the highest therapeutic satisfaction. No single model fits all contexts, underscoring the need for structured training that equips physicians to adaptively shift between styles while maintaining resilience in family-centered care.</span></span></span></div> Physician-Patient Relations , Decision Making, Shared, Medical Oncology , Qualitative Research , Health Communication 9 28 http://ijbc.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-2397-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Ali Eshghi Ali.eshghi@ut.ac.ir No Department of Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Education, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran. Zahra Khatib zahra.khatib@ut.ac.ir Yes Department of Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Education, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran. Sadaf Hooshang No Department of Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Education, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran. Fatemeh Maleki No Department of Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Education, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran. Majid Naderi No Pediatric Congenital Hematologic Disorders Research Center, Research Institute for Children's Health, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.