Communication Competencies of Oncology Nurses in Malaysia

Nor Aida Maskor,Steven Eric Krauss,Nik Hasnaa Nik Mahmood,Mazanah Muhamad

doi:10.7314/apjcp.2013.14.1.153

Abstract

This paper reports on part of a large study to identify competencies of oncology nurses in Malaysia. It focuses on oncology nurses' communications-related competency. As an important cancer care team member, oncology nurses need to communicate effectively with cancer patients. Literature shows that poor communication can make patients feel anxious, uncertain and generally not satisfied with their nurses' care. This paper deliberates on the importance of effective communication by oncology nurses in the context of a public hospital. Four focus group discussions were used in this study with 17 oncology/cancer care nurses from Malaysian public hospitals. The main inclusion criterion was that the nurses had to have undergone a post-basic course in oncology, or have work experience as a cancer care nurse. The findings indicated that nurses do communicate with their patients, patients' families and doctors to provide information about the disease, cancer treatment, disease recurrence and side effects. Nurses should have good communication skills in order to build relationships as well as to provide quality services to their patients. The paper concludes by recommending how oncology nursing competencies can be improved.

Highlights

Cancer remains a leading cause of death in the world
This paper reports on part of a large study to identify competencies of oncology nurses in Malaysia
Four focus group discussions were used in this study with 17 oncology/cancer care nurses from Malaysian public hospitals

Summary

Introduction

Cancer remains a leading cause of death in the world. The World Health Organization estimates that without intervention 84 million people will die of cancer between 2005 and 2015 (WHO, 2011). A considerable number of studies related to profiling oncology nurses’ competencies have been conducted in the West (Fallowfield and Jenkins, 1999; Kettunen, 2002; Wilkinson, 2002), similar research is wanting in non-Western contexts, in developing countries like Malaysia. This is a significant gap due to cultural differences related to expectations of care, training and education, professionalism, understanding the needs of patients and other factors that may have an influence on communication between nurses and patients. Degner and Morgan (1995) further mentioned that cancer patients need information regarding disease, treatment, cancer recurrence (Luker, 1996), treatment and illness (Jenkins, 2001), pain symptoms and relief (Pam et al, 2010) and survival issues (Graydon et al, 1997)

Materials and Methods

Results

Discussion