title: Barriers in providing psychosocial support for patients with cancer.
abstract: There is sound evidence to support the notion that the provision of effective psychosocial care improves the outcomes of patients with cancer. Central to the implementation of this care is that health professionals have the necessary communication and assessment skills. This study aimed to identify key issues related to providing effective psychosocial care for adult patients admitted with hematological cancer, as perceived by registered nurses with 3 or more years of clinical experience. An exploratory qualitative design was used for this study. Two focus group interviews were conducted with 15 experienced cancer nurses. The provision of psychosocial care for patients with cancer is a dynamic process that has a professional and personal impact on the nurse. The 5 analytic themes to emerge from the data were as follows: When is it a good time to talk? Building relationships; Being drawn into the emotional world; Providing support throughout the patient's journey; and Breakdown in communication processes. The findings from this study indicate an urgent need to develop a framework to provide nurses with both skill development and ongoing support in order to improve nurses' ability to integrate psychosocial aspects of care and optimize patient outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Clinical Nursing Research, Epworth/Deakin Nursing Research Centre, Richmond Vic 3121, Australia. mari.botti@deakin.edu.au
authors.forename: Mari
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Botti
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Endacott
authors.forename: Rosemary
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Watts
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cairns
authors.forename: Katrina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kenny
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D019337:Hematologic Neoplasms / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D012944:Social Support