scholarly journals Communication Needs of Cancer Patients and/or Caregivers: A Critical Literature Review

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Jieyu Li ◽  
Xingjuan Luo ◽  
Qian Cao ◽  
Yi Lin ◽  
Yinghua Xu ◽  
...  

Objective. Effective communication for cancer patients and/or caregivers can meet information needs, reduce caregiver burden, improve physical and mental health, and promote intimacy. The aim of this review was to identify the communication needs of cancer patients and/or caregivers and to explore their specific communication needs to guide the development of future communication interventions. Methods. Chinese and English databases were systematically searched from January 2010 to October 2019, including MEDLINE, CINAHL, PubMed, and the China Academic Journal Full-text Database. The key search terms used were “cancer” or “carcinoma” or “oncology” AND “patient” or “caregiver” or “carer” AND “communication” or “discussion” or “talk” AND “need” or “needs” or “desire.”. Results. A total of 26 articles was identified and included in this review. The findings revealed the needs of cancer patients and/or caregivers in terms of communication target, content, style, timing, and preferences. Communication targets included health professionals, peers, caregivers, and patients. Communication content included illness-related, emotional support, daily life, sexuality, death, and a way to communicate with health professionals. Communication style needed to be expressed through such things as language and communication atmosphere. Communication timing mainly referred to before treatment and approaching death. Communication preferences were related to factors such as demographics and ethnic origin. Conclusions. Cancer patients and/or caregivers have different communication needs in terms of target, content, style, and communication timing. A better understanding of the unique communication needs of patients and/or caregivers will offer health professionals detailed information on designing appropriate interventions to support cancer patients and caregivers.

2013 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 999-1007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Rüesch ◽  
René Schaffert ◽  
Susanne Fischer ◽  
Deb Feldman-Stewart ◽  
Robin Ruszat ◽  
...  

2008 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 43-49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marc Fey

Abstract In this article, I propose that, for several reasons, grammar should be an early focus of communication interventions for young children using augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems. The basic goals for such programs should be to facilitate the child's comprehension of the language of the community, or the target language, thus leading the way to literacy, and to foster the child's use of symbol combinations that mirror the grammatical patterns of speaking children acquiring the target language, even if they cannot be fully grammatically complete. I introduce five principles that underlie most successful approaches to grammar interventions with children with specific language impairment. My initial attempts to apply these principles to interventions with children with complex communication needs indicate that they may be of considerable value to clinicians planning intervention programs. On the other hand, the challenges posed by the intellectual and physical limitations of many AAC users and their communication systems make it necessary to modify at least Principle 5 if the basic goals of intervention are to be met.


2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gwendolyn P. Quinn ◽  
Kristen J. Wells ◽  
Paul B. Jacobsen ◽  
Cathy D. Meade ◽  
Jessica Mcintyre ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahboobeh Farzin ◽  
Hassan Behzadi ◽  
Azam Sanatjoo ◽  
Soodabeh Shahidsaleth

BACKGROUND The information literacy treatment, which comprises an important part of the process of disease, is one of the aspects of health literacy and this concept has been explored in fewer studies. OBJECTIVE The purpose of the present study is to investigate the state of the components of information literacy treatment in Women cancer patients. METHODS This is an applied, survey-based study. The population consists of 143 Women cancer patients were selected employing a cluster random sampling procedure. Data were collected through a researcher-made questionnaire. The questionnaire includes 37 questions consisting of six categories—medications, treatment methods, nutrition, medical tests, treatment costs, and sport exercise. RESULTS The findings showed that patients had the most information needs in the five components (except sport exercise). In addition to, the most important source of information for patients was the doctor and, of course, some of the other medical staff. Also, all the identified criteria for cancer patients were important in using the information sources for treatment. The problems such as: specialized content, unfamiliarity with the medical terms, the complexity of the treatment process, are very important to the patients. CONCLUSIONS The health professionals play an important role in shortening the interval between the patients` need for information and receiving information. It is recommended for the health authorities to hold free classes in health centers and prepare simple and comprehensible materials in these courses.


2021 ◽  
pp. 096100062098161
Author(s):  
Benedicta Boadi ◽  
George Tesilimi Banji ◽  
Patrick Adzobu ◽  
Stephen Okyere

Health information literacy plays a critical role in self-management practices among patients living with chronic health conditions. However, there are limited studies on information needs among breast cancer patients in Ghana. This paper therefore investigated the information needs of women living with breast cancer in Ghana and how educational status influenced their information needs. The study was conducted in two health facilities in Accra, Ghana (37 Military Hospital and Sweden Ghana Medical Centre). A total of 75 breast cancer patients were conveniently selected from the two health facilities for the study. The instrument used to elicit relevant data for this study was a questionnaire using the survey design. Data was analysed descriptively. The findings of the study revealed that the information needs of the breast cancer patients investigated were centred mainly around treatment and management information and less around preventive information. The patients also ranked diagnostic information as their highest need, followed by physical care information, treatment information, psychosocial information and disease-specific information in that order. Patients with higher education reported higher information need on all the five domains compared to those with lower education. The study therefore recommended that management of health facilities make health information literacy an integral component of their treatment and management of breast cancer.


Author(s):  
Rhiannon Edge ◽  
Carolyn Mazariego ◽  
Zhicheng Li ◽  
Karen Canfell ◽  
Annie Miller ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose This study aimed to explore the psychosocial impacts of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic on cancer patients, survivors, and carers in Australia. Methods Using real-time insights from two Cancer Council NSW services—131120 Information and Support Line and Online Community (CCOC) forums—we assessed service demand trends, distress levels (using the distress thermometer), and content from 131120 calls and online posts between 01 December 2019 and 31 May 2020. Emergent themes were identified through an inductive conventional content analysis with 131120 call notes, followed by a deductive directed content analysis on CCOC posts. Results In total, 688 COVID-19-related 131120 calls (n = 496) and online posts (n = 192) were analysed. Service demand peaked in March 2020 and self-reported distress peaked in May 2020 at an average of 8/10 [Mean = 7.5; SD = 0.9]. Five themes emerged from the qualitative analysis: psychological distress and fear of virus susceptibility, practical issues, cancer service disruptions, information needs, and carer Issues. Conclusions The psychosocial impacts of COVID-19 on people affected by cancer are multifaceted and likely to have long-lasting consequences. Our findings drove the development of six recommendations across three domains of support, information, and access. Cancer patients, survivors, and carers already face stressful challenges dealing with a cancer diagnosis or survivorship. The added complexity of restrictions and uncertainty associated with the pandemic may compound this. It is important that healthcare providers are equipped to provide patient-centred care during and after this crisis. Our recommendations provide points of consideration to ensure care is tailored and patient oriented.


2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e22527-e22527
Author(s):  
Michael J. Hall ◽  
Paul D'Avanzo ◽  
Yana Chertock ◽  
Jesse A Brajuha ◽  
Sarah Bauerle Bass

e22527 Background: TGP is widely used to identify targetable mutations for precision cancer treatment and clinical trials. Many patients have poor understanding of TGP and are unaware of possible secondary hereditary risks. Lack of clarity regarding the relevance of informed consent and genetic counseling further magnify risks for patients. AA patients have lower genetic knowledge and health literacy and higher MM than Caucasian patients, making them especially vulnerable in the clinical setting. Perceptions of TGP in AA cancer patients have not been well-characterized. Methods: 120 AA pts from 1 suburban and 1 urban site (Fox Chase Cancer Center[FCCC] and Temple University Hospital[TUH]) were surveyed. A k-means cluster analysis using a modified MM scale was conducted; chi-square analysis assessed demographic differences. Perceptual mapping (PM)/multidimensional scaling and vector modeling was used to create 3-dimensional maps to study how TGP barriers/facilitators differed by MM group and how message strategies for communicating about TGP may also differ. Results: Data from 112 analyzable patients from FCCC (55%) and TUH (45%) were parsed into less MM (MM-L, n = 42, 37.5%) and more MM (MM-H, n = 70, 72.5%) clusters. MM-L and MM-H clusters were demographically indistinct with no significant associations by sex (p = 0.49), education (p = 0.3), income (p = 0.65), or location (p = 0.43); only age was significant (older = higher MM, p = 0.006). Patients in the MM-H cluster reported higher concerns about TGP, including cost (p < 0.001), insurance discrimination (p < 0.001), privacy breaches (p = 0.001), test performance/accuracy (p = 0.001), secondary gain by providers (p < 0.001) and provider ability to explain results (p = 0.04). Perceptual mapping identified both shared and contrasting barriers between MM clusters (Table). Conclusions: More than 2/3 of AA patients comprised a MM-H cluster. Communication strategies should focus on concerns about family and how to discuss TGP with an oncologist. PM can identify distinct and shared information needs of vulnerable populations undergoing TGP. [Table: see text]


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document