Effective Characteristics of Iranian Oncology Nurses in Their Therapeutic Communication With Cancer Patients

Abstract

Objectives: Therapeutic communication is a central element of the nurse-patient interaction in providing quality care to cancer patients. The present study aimed to evaluate effective characteristics of Iranian oncology nurses in their therapeutic communication that might determine the nature of nurses’ communication patients with cancer. Materials and Methods: This was a qualitative study performed with a conventional content analysis method in 2020. The participants included 18 nurses working in oncology wards of educational and medical centers in northwestern Iran, selected by purposive sampling. In addition, data were collected using semi-structured interviews. Results: The qualitative data analysis led to the extraction effective characteristics of oncology nurses encompassed related of inner views and beliefs, family upbringing regarding therapeutic communication and personality characteristics. This is based on caringparticipatory attitude, empathy, trust, mutual respect. Inner satisfaction (Nurse’s and patient satisfaction), improved positive mutual approach (patient comfort and satisfaction with patient’s good feeling) positive outcomes of therapeutic communication nurses with cancer patients were. Conclusions: The establishment of effective therapeutic communication with cancer patients requires a change in the philosophy and attitude of nurses toward the potential skills of this area. In addition, nurses must have self-awareness of the importance of therapeutic communication in the improvement of patient quality care and consequences. Moreover, they should receive proper education in this area to meet their needs and encourage holistic and patient-centered approaches in these individuals.