Contacts:
Janice Post-White, American Cancer Society Professor of Oncology Nursing, (612) 624-1921
Coleen Southwell, Cancer Center Communications, (612) 626-1107, [email protected]
Health Care Professionals Can Influence Hope in Cancer Patients, U of Minnesota Study Finds
Health care professionals can contribute to or lessen hope in cancer patients by the way they communicate, ultimately influencing the patients' ability to cope with the disease, University of Minnesota Cancer Center researchers have found. Results of their study were published in the October issue of Oncology Nursing Forum.
The team, led by Janice Post-White, American Cancer Society Professor of Oncology Nursing, surveyed 32 patients undergoing cancer treatment at Fairview-University Medical Center in Minneapolis. Some of the patients had been referred to university physicians from other states. They were asked a series of questions related to hope, four of which targeted the health professional's role.
Overall, seventeen of the respondents said their health care professional did not decrease their level of hope. Fifteen said their health care professional's willingness to take the time to talk increased their level of hope, 13 said their hope was increased because information was given in a sensitive manner, and 12 said their hope increased because the caregiver was friendly or polite.
Fifteen of the patients said the health care professionals negatively influenced their level of hope. For example, some said their health care professional trivialized their situation and appeared to feel sorry for them or gave them discouraging information in a blunt or disrespectful manner. Patients also lost hope when they received conflicting information, signaling a lack of communication.
The team found that patients who were hopeful were able to handle uncomfortable side effects, continue daily activities and maintain a functional role within their family. Post-White said there appears to be a link between hope and cancer survival, but that link has not been proven scientifically.
"With pressure to cut costs it may be difficult for health care providers to spend a lot of quality time with patients," Post-White said. "This study shows patients feel more hopeful when their health care provider communicates thoughtfully and compassionately, even if the conversation is brief."
The university receives nearly $20 million a year from the National Cancer Institute, ranking it among the top 20 federally funded cancer research institutions in the country. The university's Cancer Center coordinates cancer-related research, education, and patient care activities at the university. News releases also on WWW at http://www.umn.edu/urelate/news.html
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