Patients' experience of important factors in the healthcare environment in oncology care.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to describe what factors of the healthcare environment are perceived as being important to patients in oncology care.


METHODS
A qualitative design was adopted using focus group interviews.


METHODS
The sample was 11 patients with different cancer diagnoses in an oncology ward at a university hospital in west Sweden.


RESULTS
Analysis of the patients' perceptions of the environment indicated a complex entity comprising several aspects. These came together in a structure consisting of three main categories: safety, partnership with the staff, and physical space. The care environment is perceived as a complex entity, made up of several physical and psychosocial aspects, where the physical factors are subordinated by the psychosocial factors. It is clearly demonstrated that the patients' primary desire was a psychosocial environment where they were seen as a unique person; the patients wanted opportunities for good encounters with staff, fellow patients, and family members, supported by a good physical environment; and the patients valued highly a place to withdraw and rest.


CONCLUSIONS
This study presents those attributes that are valued by cancer patients as crucial and important for the support of their well-being and functioning. The results show that physical aspects were subordinate to psychosocial factors, which emerged strongly as being the most important in a caring environment.
Division of Nursing, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden. maria.brovall@ki.se
Maria
M
Browall
Ingalill
I
Koinberg
Hanna
H
Falk
Helle
H
Wijk
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor; D036262:Empirical Research; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D005502:Food / Q000592:standards; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016522:Oncology Service, Hospital / Q000592:standards*; D018802:Patient-Centered Care; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology*; D011584:Psychology; D036301:Qualitative Research; D013649:Taste
Patients' experience; oncological care; patient perspective; person-centred care; physical and psychosocial factors