Application of focus group interview to explore oncology nurse communication difficulties / 中国实用护理杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the reason and influence of communication difficulties between oncology nurses and patients or families of patients,and to obtain some relevant advice about communication difficulties.Methods This study used focus group to interview 24 oncology nurses who were selected from the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University by homogeneous sampling method,and were randomly divided into three groups (8 in each group).The data were processed and analyzed by content analysis.Results The reasons why oncology nurses had communication difficulties with patients and their families were as followsputting forward negative problems about their disease,ineffective communication and conflicts with patients,families.The communication difficulties showed negative effect on oncology nurses.Oncology nurses thought that the main reason of communication difficulties lied in the deficiency of institution and propounded the suggestion to resolve it.Conclusions oncology nurses were tend to have difficulty in communicating with patients and their families in the long-term work,especially in the period of crisisearly diagnosis of tumor stage,relapse,advanced cancer and some special dates (birthday,parties etc.).Therefore,oncology nurses,patients and their families need to be supported.To solve the difficulties of communication could reduce the negative emotions of patients and their family,such as anxiety,frustration,helplessness,so as to improve the quality of care and life of patients.