PATIENT-CENTERED COMMUNICATION BARRIERS: EXPERIENCES OF PATIENTS WITH CANCER, THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS AND NURSES

It is suggested that nurses unable to communicate with patients based on the
needs and preferences and to individualize relationship with their patients so that dissatisfaction of
patient is the most important outcome of this issue. This study was conducted for detecting patientcentered communication barriers based on experiences of patients with cancer, their family members
and nurses.
Materials & Methods: This study was conducted with a conventional content analysis approach with
nine patients, three family members and five nurses in oncology wards of Tabriz hospitals. Data was
collected through purposive sampling by semi-structured deep interviews and analyzed
simultaneously. Robustness of data analysis was evaluated by the participants and external control.
Results: Despite the willingness of patients and nurses for patient-centered communication, there are
barriers that limit it. At the organizational context, workload and time imbalance, organizational
culture: neglecting to nurses and patients needs, routine-based instead of patient-centeredness, extra
shifts and lack of supervision; and at the psychological context, emotional problems of patients due to
cancer diagnosis and invasive treatments and sense of vulnerability in nurses resulted from
emotionally and physically perilous sense of working with cancer patient was introduced. At the
sociocultural context, language and gender differences, illiteracy, poor health literacy and
misconceptions about therapeutic intimacy were identified.
Conclusion: In order to communicate with cancer patients, change in philosophy and culture of care
environment is essential. Nurses must receive proper trainings conform to their needs which focus on
holistic and patient-centered approach. Nursing administrators must monitor the communication
functions of the nurses and pay attention to the personal and emotional needs of them.