Abstract
Purpose: To qualitatively explore the communication between healthcare professionals and oncology patients based on the perception of patients undergoing chemotherapy. Method: Qualitative and exploratory design. Participants were 14 adult patients undergoing chemotherapy at different stages of the disease. A socio-demographic and clinical data form was utilized along with semi-structured interviews. The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed and content analysis was performed. Two independent judges evaluated the interview content in regards to emerging categories and obtained a Kappa index of 0.834. Results: Three categories emerged from the data: 1) Technical communication without emotional support, in which the information provided is composed of strictly technical information regarding the diagnosis, treatment and/or prognosis; 2) Technical communication, in which the information provided is oriented towards the technical aspects of the patient’s physical condition, while also providing psychological support for the patients’ subjective needs; and 3) Insufficient technical communication, win which there are gaps in the information provided causing confusion and suffering to the patient. Conclusions: Communication with emotional support contributes to greater satisfaction of chemotherapy patients. Practical implications: the results provide elements for the training of healthcare professionals regarding the importance of the emotional support that can be offered to cancer patients during their treatment.
Highlights
The provider-patient communication in the cancer context can be considered one of the main aspects of providing this type of healthcare
Three categories emerged from the data: 1) Technical communication without emotional support, in which the information provided is composed of strictly technical information regarding the diagnosis, treatment and/or prognosis; 2) Technical communication, in which the information provided is oriented towards the technical aspects of the patient’s physical condition, while providing psychological support for the patients’ subjective needs; and 3) Insufficient technical communication, win which there are gaps in the information provided causing confusion and suffering to the patient
Communication with emotional support contributes to greater satisfaction of chemotherapy patients
Summary
The provider-patient communication in the cancer context can be considered one of the main aspects of providing this type of healthcare. The concept of communication can be characterized by any means by which information is transmitted, including that which supports this process, as well as the respective situational inter-relations[2]. The main objectives of the provider-patient communication are to create a good interpersonal relationship, to exchange information and to include the patient in decision making process[3,4,5]. The content of the information should be informative, supportive, constructive and positive. This information is multidimensional and involves what takes place in the provider-patient interaction, including the content of the dialogue, verbal behavior, nonverbal behavior and the affective component[6]
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