[en] This paper describes a study investigating the provider-patient communication perceptions, experiences, needs and strategies of doctors and nurses working together in a UK cancer setting. This was a qualitative study using individual interviews and 32 focus group discussions. Interpretative Phenomenological analysis (IPA) was used to underpin data collection and analysis. Twenty-six staff participated in the project (18 nurses and 8 doctors). Both professional groups identified an inherent emotional strain in their daily interactions with patients. The strategies they adopted to reduce this strain fell into two main categories: 1) Handling or managing the patient to keep negative emotion at bay; and 2) Managing self to keep negative emotion at bay. These strategies allowed staff to maintain a sense of control in an emotionally-stressful environment. Most believed that their communication skills were sufficient. In conclusion, communicating with and caring for cancer patients causes considerable psycho-social burden for doctors and nurses. Managing this burden influences their communication with patients. Without recognition of the need for staff to protect their own emotional well-being, communication skills training programmes, emphasised in current UK cancer care guidelines, may have little impact on practice.
Cleland, Jennifer A.; School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Aberdeen, Scotland, UK
McLean, Margaret; Clinical and Counselling Psychology, NHS Grampian, Scotland, UK
Worrell, Marcia; Clinical and Health Psychology Research Centre, University of Roehampton, London, UK
Vögele, Claus ; University of Luxembourg > Faculty of Language and Literature, Humanities, Arts and Education (FLSHASE) > Integrative Research Unit: Social and Individual Development (INSIDE)
Language :
English
Title :
“What am I going to say here?” The experiences of doctors and nurses communicating with patients in a cancer unit.
Publication date :
2011
Journal title :
Frontiers in Psychology
ISSN :
1664-1078
Publisher :
Switzerland Frontiers Research Foundation, Pully, Switzerland