title: What is important for patient centred care? A qualitative study about the perceptions of patients with cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This article deals with one of the themes from interviews in a larger qualitative study about cancer patients' perceptions of good caring. It is widely recognized today that patient centred care is important. Patients' values and perceptions must be acknowledged in order to make care evidence based and to meet the demands of quality improvement processes.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim was to get insight in patients with cancers' perceptions of the importance of being respected as partners and share control of decisions about interventions and management of their health problems and the reasons behind their wishes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Giorgio's scientific approach to phenomenology was used. Twenty cancer inpatients with various cancer diagnoses at different stages and with different prognoses were interviewed. The sampling was purposive.
  
  
  METHODS
  Permission to carry out the research was given by a Regional Committee of Research Ethics in Western Norway and the data collection followed the guidelines of the Data Inspectorate of Norway.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The units of meaning identified could be clustered into three themes with significance for patient centred care from patients' perspectives: (1) empowerment (being respected, listened to, given honest information, being valued); (2) shared decision making about the treatment of the disease (discussing the treatment, but letting the doctor decide in the end); and (3) partnership in nursing care.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Health care professionals can practise patient centred care by treating patients with respect, giving honest information, making them feel valued as persons and by inviting them to take part in all decisions about their daily life and care. However, cancer patients' desire to make decisions about their treatments must not be taken for granted. Doctors must find out the extent to which each patient wants to participate and then give the necessary information.
authors.affiliation: Department of Post Graduate Studies, Betanien Diaconal University College, Fyllingsdalen, Norway. kirsti.kvale@betanien.no
authors.forename: Kirsti
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kvåle
authors.forename: Margareth
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bondevik
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D009664:Norway; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D009859:Oncology Nursing / Q000592:standards; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000592:standards; D018802:Patient-Centered Care / Q000592:standards*; D010465:Perception; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D012041:Regional Medical Programs / Q000592:standards