When cure is no option: How explicit and hopeful can information be given? A qualitative study in breast cancer

Abstract Objective To investigate how oncologists can balance explicit with general and realistic with hopeful information when discussing various topics at the transition from curative to palliative care in breast cancer. Methods Qualitative analysis of focus groups consisting of female breast canc...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Patient education and counseling 2013-03, Vol.90 (3), p.315-322
Main Authors: van Vliet, Liesbeth, Francke, Anneke, Tomson, Samanta, Plum, Nicole, van der Wall, Elsken, Bensing, Jozien
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Aged
Breast cancer
Breast Neoplasms - psychology
Case-Control Studies
Clinical information
Communication
Consultation
Female
Focus Groups
Humans
Internal Medicine
Middle Aged
Nursing
Oncologists
Palliative care
Patient preference
Physician-Patient Relations
Social Support
Survivors
Survivors - psychology
Terminal Care - psychology
Truth disclosure
Women
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Summary:Abstract Objective To investigate how oncologists can balance explicit with general and realistic with hopeful information when discussing various topics at the transition from curative to palliative care in breast cancer. Methods Qualitative analysis of focus groups consisting of female breast cancer survivors and healthy women. Results Perceptions of survivors and healthy women largely overlapped. Participants thought that oncologists can help patients regain a future perspective during this consultation. To achieve this, four themes seemed important: honest medical information, availability of continued support, hope has many faces, and space to choose. Moreover, participants stressed they would need time to let the message sink in before any further information was provided. Conclusion Participants thought that when confronted with this type of consultation they would need – more or less explicit – medical information and information regarding support. In order to maintain hope, knowledge about (treatment) possibilities is important, but also the certainty not to be abandoned by the hospital at a later stage of the disease and the confidence to remain able to make one's own decisions. Practice implications A life-limiting diagnosis may shatter patients’ future perspective; however, this study provides suggestions for oncologists to create a new perspective.
ISSN:0738-3991
1873-5134
DOI:10.1016/j.pec.2011.03.021