Factors affecting the levels of satisfaction with nurse-patient communication among oncology patients

BACKGROUND: Nurse-patient communication is of the utmost importance to oncology patients. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the factors influencing the level of satisfaction with nurse-patient communication among oncology patients during their daily routine procedures. METHODS: In this observational study, 25 registered nurses and 94 patients were recruited from an oncology unit. The patients were asked to complete a concern checklist before and after each admission, administration of medication, and wound-dressing procedure. Nonverbal cues expressed by the nurses and patients were noted on the checklist during these nursing procedures. RESULTS: The results showed that patients at stage 3 cancer and patients receiving admission procedures were significantly more satisfied with their communication with nurses compared with those who were more concerned about the impact of the disease on self-care. CONCLUSIONS: Cancer stage, time of admission, and psychological concern related to self-care ability are the potential factors affecting the satisfaction level of nurse-patient communication. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: Emphasis could be placed on utilizing the time of admission to interact with patients in a busy environment to strive for better communication with oncology patients. The results underscore the importance of applying the self-care enhancement approach for hospitalized cancer patients.