OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to examine the belief held by many cancer patients that communication with their care providers has a meaningful part to play in shaping their disease outcomes. METHODS: From a large qualitative interview data set in which cancer patients described their perceptions of helpful and unhelpful heath care communication; we extracted the accounts of 69 patients and 13 focus group participants who specifically articulated a perceived relationship between communication and cancer outcomes. Through secondary analysis of that subset, we generated an interpretive description of patterns and themes within their accounts of a relationship between communication and cancer survivorship. RESULTS: Our findings document patient perceptions of the mechanisms involved in indirect and, some instances, direct relationships between communication encounters and cancer outcomes. CONCLUSION: Some cancer patients believe that, by virtue of its influence upon comfort, inclusion, clarity and hope, communication can influence cancer outcomes. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: While competing discourses exist within the patient population with regard to such associations, the perception that communication may influence clinical outcomes seems sufficiently pervasive and persistent that it warrants serious attention within care systems and by the psychosocial cancer research community.
OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to examine the belief held by many cancerpatients that communication with their care providers has a meaningful part to play in shaping their disease outcomes. METHODS: From a large qualitative interview data set in which cancerpatients described their perceptions of helpful and unhelpful heath care communication; we extracted the accounts of 69 patients and 13 focus group participants who specifically articulated a perceived relationship between communication and cancer outcomes. Through secondary analysis of that subset, we generated an interpretive description of patterns and themes within their accounts of a relationship between communication and cancer survivorship. RESULTS: Our findings document patient perceptions of the mechanisms involved in indirect and, some instances, direct relationships between communication encounters and cancer outcomes. CONCLUSION: Some cancerpatients believe that, by virtue of its influence upon comfort, inclusion, clarity and hope, communication can influence cancer outcomes. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: While competing discourses exist within the patient population with regard to such associations, the perception that communication may influence clinical outcomes seems sufficiently pervasive and persistent that it warrants serious attention within care systems and by the psychosocial cancer research community.
Authors: Moshe Frenkel; Joan C Engebretson; Sky Gross; Noemi E Peterson; Ariela Popper Giveon; Kenneth Sapire; Doron Hermoni Journal: Support Care Cancer Date: 2016-05-12 Impact factor: 3.603
Authors: Francesca Gany; Lalanthica Yogendran; Dana Massie; Julia Ramirez; Trevor Lee; Gary Winkel; Lisa Diamond; Jennifer Leng Journal: J Cancer Educ Date: 2013-03 Impact factor: 2.037
Authors: Roberta E Goldman; Amy Sullivan; Anthony L Back; Stewart C Alexander; Robin K Matsuyama; Stephanie J Lee Journal: Patient Educ Couns Date: 2009-01-09