Paediatric oncology patients’ definitions of a good physician and good nurse

Abstract

Background: It is stated that the communication and disease experiences of paediatric patients, especially paediatric oncology patients, with healthcare professionals are completely different from those of adults. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the definitions of a good physician and good nurse provided by elementary school-age oncology patients. Research design: In this qualitative research, data were collected through semi-structured individual interviews. The data were evaluated thorough thematic analysis. Participants and research context: Eighteen children hospitalised due to cancer in paediatric oncology and haematology clinics of a university hospital in Turkey. Ethical considerations: Permission to conduct the study was obtained from the Institution’s Ethics Committee. The objectives of this study were explained to the participants and families, and written consent was obtained from them. Also, participants were assured that necessary measures would be taken to protect their anonymity and confidentiality. Findings: The definitions of children were based on five main themes: interpersonal relationships, virtues, professional responsibility, security and individual characteristics. Conclusion: Children conveyed important messages to health professionals. They emphasised that a good physician and good nurse should communicate well, not only with themselves but also with their family. In addition, children were sensitive about health professionals who played with them and actively participated in the treatment by informing them about the disease. Meeting the expectations of children can be possible by improving the communication skills of physicians and nurses and by adding games and activities to the treatment and care plan.

Information-sharing experiences of professionals looking after children with cancer: a qualitative exploration from a specialist paediatric oncology unit in India

“…Previous research in Turkey with children aged 7–12 years undergoing cancer treatment viewed a doctor or a nurse positively if they communicated with them as well as their parents [ 30 ]. The presence of a multidisciplinary team [ 22 ] may be a helpful strategy during communication as was reported by a study conducted on children with cancer from Iran.…”

Children living with long‐term conditions and their experiences of partnership in nursing care: An integrative systematic review

“…Only one study (Livesley & Long, 2013) discussed a theoretical framework used in the paediatric health care setting where the research was conducted, with the framework being FCC (Livesley & Long, 2013). Of the 18 qualitative studies, three studies (Grealish et al, 2013; Manookian et al, 2014; Spratling, 2012) used a phenomenology approach, three studies (Lee et al, 2019; Livesley & Long, 2013; Rindstedt & Aronsson, 2012) used an ethnographic approach; one study used a hermeneutic approach (Biering & Jensen, 2010) and one study (Aşikli & Aydin Er, 2020) used a grounded theory approach. One further study (Randall, 2012) used a mosaic approach and encompassed three types of theory in their methodology – phenomenology, ethnography and visual.…”

“…One further study (Randall, 2012) used a mosaic approach and encompassed three types of theory in their methodology – phenomenology, ethnography and visual. Most of the studies included in the review (Aşikli & Aydin Er, 2020; Biering & Jensen, 2010; Cheng et al, 2016; Corsano et al, 2015; Darcy et al, 2019; Gibson et al, 2010; Grealish et al, 2013; Lee et al, 2019; Livesley & Long, 2013; Manookian et al, 2014; Montreuil et al, 2015; Nabors & Liddle, 2017; Olsson et al, 2015; Randall, 2012; Spratling, 2012; Xie et al, 2017) used interviews as the main source of collecting data from participants. Five studies (Lee et al, 2019; Livesley & Long, 2013; Montreuil et al, 2015; Randall, 2012; Rindstedt & Aronsson, 2012) also used observations of participant interaction with nursing staff.…”

“…one study used a hermeneutic approach (Biering & Jensen, 2010) and one study (Aşikli & Aydin Er, 2020) used a grounded theory approach. One further study (Randall, 2012) used a mosaic approach and encompassed three types of theory in their methodology -phenomenology, ethnography and visual.…”

“…Nurses who were more approachable were described as being more fun and often joked and played with the children, which the children greatly valued and appreciated, for example: They also discussed the importance of the nurses' presentation when caring for them, stating that scrubs could be intimidating (Aşikli & Aydin Er, 2020;Petronio-Coia & Schwartz-Barcott, 2020;Xie et al, 2017). Children appreciated nurses who took time to make themselves presented and bright, stating that bright colours were less intimidating and allowed the children to be distracted during difficult procedures (Aşikli & Aydin Er, 2020;Xie et al, 2017). In one study as Montreuil et al, (2015) explained, children valued the importance of a strong relationship between the nurse and the parent, as well as the child-nurse relationship.…”