Wishing to be perceived as a capable and resourceful person—A qualitative study of melanoma patients’ experiences of the contact and interaction with healthcare professionals

Abstract

Aims and objectives:To explore patients' experiences of contact and interaction with healthcare professionals (HCPs) during the diagnostic process of melanoma.Background: In Sweden, most patients with suspected skin lesions seek care at the primary level of services in the first instance. Previous research describes the diagnostic process as a complex journey with uncertainty. Nonetheless, the importance of contact and interaction between patient and HCPs during the diagnostic process is rarely explored.Design: This study adopted a qualitative design in which semi-structured interviews were conducted and the COREQ-checklist for qualitative studies employed (EQUATOR guidelines). Methods:A sample of 30 patients (15 women, 15 men) diagnosed with melanoma was included. Secondary analysis of interviews was carried out using qualitative content analysis. Results: One theme emerged: Wishing to be perceived as a capable and resourceful person that consisted of three categories: (a) The need of being valued, (b) The need of being informed and (c) The need of taking actions. Conclusions:Our results suggest that patients wish to be valued as capable and resourceful persons as well as to be provided with honest and sufficient information about the diagnosis and subsequent procedures. By fulfilling these wishes, HCPs can involve patients in the diagnostic process and reduce patients' uncertainty. A need of supportive and accessible health care to manage the diagnostic process and to reduce patients' struggle for care was also identified.Relevance to the clinical practice: Patients are satisfied when health care is organised in a patient-/person-centred manner, that is, in accordance with patients' needs, avoiding gatekeeping, and when HCPs interact respectfully in encounters. Accessible HCPs during the diagnostic process of melanoma are required to inform, support and navigate patients within the healthcare system and through their diagnostic journey. S U PP O RTI N G I N FO R M ATI O NAdditional supporting information may be found online in the Supporting Information section at the end of the article. How to cite this article: Hultstrand Ahlin C, Hörnsten Å, Coe A-B, Lilja M, Hajdarevic S. Wishing to be perceived as a capable and resourceful person-A qualitative study of melanoma patients' experiences of the contact and interaction with healthcare professionals. J Clin Nurs.

Situational awareness in the outpatient encounter between patients with breast cancer or malignant melanoma and healthcare professionals: Patients’ perceptions

“…Poor communication seemed to increase their level of distress and may lead to patient harm. This finding supports another study where a common feeling was loneliness due to feeling ignored or neglected (Hultstrand Ahlin et al, ). It is essential for patients to feel important, prioritized and respected as persons; otherwise, they may feel rejected in the encounter (Hultstrand Ahlin et al, ).…”

“…Nonverbal and verbal communication plays a central role in the process of situational awareness and appeared as a recurring and crucial issue in all three themes. Findings demonstrate that good communication related to feeling well informed and involved in clinical decisions enable patients to experience their situation with cancer with less difficulty while poor communication contributes to increasing anxiety and uncertainty (Hultstrand Ahlin et al, ; Muntlin Athlin et al, ). High‐quality communication by HCPs is essential to recognise, acknowledge and address patients’ needs in order to support them coping with a potentially life‐threatening disease (Llewellyn, Howard, & McCabe, ).…”

“…We know from research that females have significantly more needs than male patients (Morrison et al, ), and patients suffering from breast cancer are predominantly females while patients with malignant melanoma are of both genders. In addition, little research exists regarding the interaction between patients with malignant melanoma and HCPs (Hultstrand Ahlin et al, ). Exclusion criteria were as follows: patients who could not speak or understand Danish or patients with brain tumours or other cognitive challenges.…”

“…The diagnosis implies an inevitable interaction with healthcare professionals (HCPs) where patients expect to be supported and feel that their fundamental needs are met. There is considerable evidence that while patients have a wide range of needs (Morrison et al, ), HCPs often fail to address these needs appropriately (Halbach et al, ; Hultstrand Ahlin, Hornsten, Coe, Lilja, & Hajdarevic, ; Martinez Arroyo, Andreu Vaillo, Martinez Lopez, & Galdon Garrido, ; Reese et al, ; Stamataki et al, ). To address patients’ needs adequately, situational awareness is essential to delivering sustainable best practice and improving clinical outcomes for patients (Green et al, ).…”

“…For example, a research study portrays patients’ need for guidance and clarification of doubts, concerns, anxiety, fear of illness and treatment (Trescher et al, ). Patients feel supported when HCPs are accessible during the diagnostic phase, act respectfully in encounters, and when HCPs meet their fundamental needs (Hultstrand Ahlin et al, ). However, different contexts in healthcare systems are not always geared for cultures that value and underpin these situations (Bridges et al, ; Feo & Kitson, ; Louis, ).…”