In:
Journal of Oncology Practice, American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), Vol. 12, No. 2 ( 2016-02), p. 170-171
Abstract:
QUESTION ASKED: What is the preferred greeting process (name calling, hand shaking) in oncology practice, by patients, caregivers and medical staff? SUMMARY ANSWER: Findings suggest that patients with cancer in Israel prefer a casual environment that includes calling them by their given name and shaking hands. Yet, they prefer that physicians introduce themselves in a more formal manner, with full name and title. METHODS: A total of 186 patients and 104 caregivers visiting the outpatient clinics at the Davidoff Cancer Institute completed a questionnaire about greeting-related preferences. Similar questionnaires were completed by 93 staff members (physicians, nurses, secretaries, and psychosocial team). BIAS, CONFOUNDING FACTOR(S), DRAWBACKS: First, our attempt to delineate the greeting process is artificial, because a human encounter is much more than just gestures. Also, this was a single-center study, and some of the subgroups were too small to analyze. Last, the answers provided by respondents were not verified by real observations of medical staff–patient meetings. REAL-LIFE IMPLICATIONS: This survey provides insights that may help oncology professionals in building relationships with their patients. Our findings of patients' preferences and ideas about the desired interactions between them and the medical staff may provide guidance on how to approach patients with cancer. Encounters between patients and medical staff are the foundation for building the patient–medical staff relationship, which is a keystone of cancer care. This survey may facilitate the initiation of such future interactions. [Table: see text]
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
1554-7477
,
1935-469X
DOI:
10.1200/JOP.2015.006049
Language:
English
Publisher:
American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)
Publication Date:
2016
detail.hit.zdb_id:
3005549-0
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2236338-5
