Toward Patient-Centered Cancer Care: Patient Perceptions of Problematic Events, Impact, and Response

Abstract

Cancer patients who believe they experienced a preventable, harmful event during their cancer diagnosis or care often do not formally report their concerns. Systems are needed to encourage patients to report such events and to help physicians and health care systems respond effectively.

“Best Practice” for Patient-Centered Communication: A Narrative Review

“…Mazor and colleagues 73 studied breakdowns in cancer care in 416 patients. Of the 93 patients who experienced problems with their treatment, 44 (47%) reported communication breakdowns, including fundamental problems in information sharing, emotional support, and care coordination.…”

Interdisciplinary palliative care teams : insights and experiences of chaplain interns and social work interns.

“…However, team work is complex and barriers and challenges exist that may affect helpful interdisciplinary team interaction. Examples of barriers and challenges that negatively affect interdisciplinary palliative care team functioning are failures in communication (Goldsmith et al, 2010;Mazor et al, 2012), the lack of a common language between team disciplines (Gachoud et al, 2012;Mellor et al, 2002) (Abramson & Mizrahi, 2003;Hartrick-Doane et al, 2012), and role flexibility and ambiguity (Bronstein, 2003;Junger et al, 2007;Klarare et al, 2013;Nancarrow et al, 2013;Wittenberg-Lyles et al, 2008).…”

“…8). Communication breakdowns occur in healthcare, which impact patient trust with providers and their ability to make decisions (Mazor et al, 2012). In several instances from the data, chaplain interns saw consultations not go as hoped for the patients and other issues of care turn into disappointments.…”

When Patient-Centered Care Isn't

“…2 Despite being bombarded with surveys, post-encounter telephone calls, 3 and requests to speak up about their medical care, 4,5 patients find that their complaints often are ignored and rarely lead to improvements. Two shortcomings underlie this paradox: 1) Current approaches to health care put the burden on patients to voice their concerns.…”

“…But patients usually don't complain, even when they believe that things have gone seriously wrong. [3][4][5] Many remain quiet, convinced that their opinions do not matter or that mere mention of a problem will provoke retaliation and poor care. 2,4,5 To minimize or eliminate these barriers to communication, healthcare systems and providers must take primary responsibility by building an environment in which patients and family members feel safe in expressing their concerns and are confident in the knowledge that their opinions will be welcomed and will improve their care.…”