Communication patterns in nurse-led chemotherapy clinics: A mixed-method study

Carole Farrell, E. Angela Chan, Eleni Siouta, Catherine Walshe, Alex Molassiotis

Research output: Journal article publicationJournal articleAcademic researchpeer-review

6 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Objective: To determine patterns of nurse-patient communication in fulfilling patients’ informational/psychosocial needs, effects of longer consultation/operational aspects on person-centred care experiences. Methods: Mixed-method design; secondary analysis of transcripts of nurse-patient communication within nurse-led chemotherapy clinics in UK [3]. Purposive sampling (13 nurses); non-participant observations (61 consultations). Qualitative content analysis of audio-recorded transcripts. Quantitative analysis using the Medical Interview Aural Rating Scale [14] to compare mean differences in the number of cues and level of responding using one-way ANOVA, and correlational analyses of discursive spaces. Results: Nurses responded positively to informational cues, but not psychosocial cues. Longer consultations associated with more informational and psychosocial cues (p < .0001), but not nurses’ cue-responding behaviours. Four main themes emerged: challenges/opportunities for person-centred communication in biomedical contexts; patients’ “life world” versus the “medical world”; three-way communication: nurse, patient and family; implications of continuity of care. Conclusions: The challenges/opportunities for cue-responding in nurse-led chemotherapy clinics were evident for informational and psychosocial support of patients. Shifting from a biomedical to biopsychosocial focus is difficult. Practice implications: Further evaluation is needed to integrate biopsychosocial elements into communication education/training. Careful planning is required to ensure continuity and effective use of time for person-centred care.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1538-1545
Number of pages8
JournalPatient Education and Counseling
Volume103
Issue number8
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Aug 2020

Keywords

  • Continuity of care
  • Cue-responding behaviours
  • Family dynamics
  • Nurse-led chemotherapy clinics
  • Nurse-patient communication
  • Patient-centred care
  • Psychosocial needs

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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