title: Patient reactions to met and unmet psychological need: a critical incident analysis.
abstract: Patients with cancer must deal with a variety of psychological and social difficulties, but the extent to which staff assist patients with these difficulties is not clear. Using the Critical Incident Technique (CIT), patients attending a Cancer Centre were asked to describe situations in which their emotional needs were, and were not, met by staff. Although most patients were able to describe a situation in which their needs were met by staff, 23% also described a situation in which this was not the case. These latter incidents were often related to anxiety, confusion and a wish to sever links with the hospital. Patients who reported that their needs were not met requested more staff time and further information about their diagnosis and treatment.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kent
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wills
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Faulkner
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Parry
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Whipp
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Coleman
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires