Patient Perceptions of Oncologist-Patient Communication About Prognosis: Changes From Initial Diagnosis to Cancer Recurrence

Cancer recurrence presents oncologists with many challenges, including discussing prognosis. A thematic analysis of patient interviews was conducted to learn more about how this challenge is met by doctors and patients in their communication. Female patients being treated for a cancer recurrence at...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inHealth communication Vol. 26; no. 1; pp. 48 - 58
Main Authors Step, Mary M., Ray, Eileen Berlin
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published England Taylor & Francis Group 01.01.2011
Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group
Subjects
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Cancer
Cancer Care Facilities
Chronic Disease - psychology
Chronic illnesses
Communication
Diagnosis
Female
Humans
Interviews as Topic
Medical diagnosis
Medical Oncology
Medical prognosis
Middle Aged
Neoplasm Metastasis
Neoplasms - diagnosis
Neoplasms - psychology
Oncologists
Oncology
Patients
Perceptions
Physician-Patient Relations
Problematic integration theory
Prognosis
Recurrence
Social Perception
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Summary:Cancer recurrence presents oncologists with many challenges, including discussing prognosis. A thematic analysis of patient interviews was conducted to learn more about how this challenge is met by doctors and patients in their communication. Female patients being treated for a cancer recurrence at a comprehensive cancer center (N = 30) were asked to recall how they discussed their prognosis with oncologists when initially diagnosed and when the cancer recurred. All interviews were recorded, transcribed, and thematic analysis applied to patients' remarks concerning prognosis. Following comparison of prognosis quotes identified in the transcript, two primary themes were drawn from the data: communicating optimism at the initial diagnosis; and communicating chronic disease management at recurrence. Three subthemes were also identified in the recurrence communication: managing the new information; ambiguous communication about the prognosis; and the information seeking paradox. Problematic integration theory is offered as an important explanatory mechanism for understanding oncologist-patient communication about prognosis during a cancer recurrence.
Bibliography:ObjectType-Article-1
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
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ISSN:1041-0236
1532-7027
DOI:10.1080/10410236.2011.527621