Cancer patients' interpretations of verbal expressions when given information about ending cancer treatment.
BACKGROUND
Cancer patients' interpretations of the meaning of words used when given bad news are not well studied in medical settings. The aim of this study was to ascertain what significance verbal expressions had for cancer patients when they were given information about ending active tumour treatment, and what message they felt they received.


METHODS
Tape-recorded semi-structured interviews were performed and analysed using a qualitative phenomenographical approach.


RESULTS
Thirty patients with incurable cancer admitted to hospital-based home care unit in Sweden participated. Three main categories about the significance of words emerged: 1) words could indicate indirect warnings as being forewarnings, evasive or ambiguous; 2) words could also be perceived as emotionally trying, as threats or abandoning; 3) other words were fortifying and strengthened the patient in this situation. The overall message given during the information could be interpreted differently: either focused on treatment, on quality of life, or on threat and death.


CONCLUSIONS
The understanding of the significance of words to tailor the information to patients helps the physician to use forewarnings and fortifying words and to identify and avoid the use of threatening words.
Friedrichsen
Maria J
MJ
Palliative Research Unit, Linköping University, Norrköping, Sweden. maria.friedrichsen@lio.se
Strang
Peter M
PM
Carlsson
Maria E
ME
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001364:Awareness; D002755:Choice Behavior; D005260:Female; D018575:Home Care Services, Hospital-Based; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D010166:Palliative Care; D010465:Perception; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D016079:Refusal to Treat; D013548:Sweden; D014342:Truth Disclosure; D014705:Verbal Behavior