Breast cancer patient experiences with and preferences for time alone with their cancer care team

IF 2.9 2区医学 Q2 PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH

Patient Education and Counseling Pub Date : 2025-05-17 DOI:10.1016/j.pec.2025.109178

Elizabeth Broadbridge , Maria K. Venetis , Katie A. Devine , Lauren E. Lee , Kathryn Greene

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Objective

Clinicians often suggest that breast cancer patients bring a companion with them to cancer-related appointments. However, a companion's presence shifts the interaction at a minimum from dyadic to triadic, with potential consequences for effective communication. It is not well documented how often breast cancer patients have time alone with their cancer team, how long any time alone lasts, and if patients are satisfied with the amount of time alone.

Methods

Current (undergoing treatment; n = 150) and former patients (treatment completed; n = 202) breast cancer patients who regularly bring a companion with them to their cancer care visits completed an online questionnaire about the time they spend alone with their oncology team.

Results

Current patients reported fewer instances of time alone with their care team than former patients. Overall, most patients reported that the frequency of time alone was about right and that they rarely brought up questions or topics that they would not want to raise with their companion present. Of the patients who reported having no time alone (n = 38), the primary reported reason was that they did not want time alone with their cancer care team.

Conclusions

Approximately 1 in 3-4 patients reported that there were questions or topics that they feel more comfortable raising when they have time alone with their healthcare team, representing an important need for these patients. Most patients reported wanting time alone with their cancer care team and reported being satisfied with the amount they do have.

Practice implications

Results are a positive reflection on the amount and frequency of time alone that breast cancer patients desire throughout the cancer care trajectory. To support patient communication needs, clinicians should provide at least some time alone with their patients, particularly when the patient regularly attends visits with a companion and may otherwise not have the opportunity to be alone with their cancer care team.

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乳腺癌患者与他们的癌症护理团队的经验和单独时间的偏好

目的临床医生经常建议乳腺癌患者在与癌症相关的预约中带一名陪伴者。然而，同伴的存在至少会将互动从二元模式转变为三元模式，从而产生有效沟通的潜在后果。乳腺癌患者与他们的癌症团队独处的时间有多长，独处的时间有多长，以及患者是否对独处的时间感到满意，这些都没有很好的记录。方法：正在治疗；N = 150)和前患者(治疗完成；N = 202)定期带一名同伴去接受癌症治疗的乳腺癌患者完成了一份关于他们与肿瘤医生单独相处时间的在线调查问卷。结果与以前的患者相比，现在的患者报告与他们的护理团队单独相处的时间更少。总的来说，大多数患者报告说，独处的频率是合适的，他们很少提出他们不想在伴侣在场的情况下提出的问题或话题。在报告没有独处时间的患者中（n = 38），报告的主要原因是他们不想与癌症护理团队独处。大约三分之一的患者报告说，当他们有时间单独与医疗团队交谈时，他们会觉得更舒服地提出问题或话题，这对这些患者来说是一个重要的需求。大多数患者表示希望有时间单独与他们的癌症护理团队相处，并对他们所拥有的时间感到满意。实践启示：研究结果积极反映了乳腺癌患者在整个癌症治疗过程中所希望的独处时间的数量和频率。为了支持患者的交流需求，临床医生应该至少提供一些时间与患者单独相处，特别是当患者定期与同伴一起就诊时，否则可能没有机会与癌症护理团队单独相处。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Patient Education and Counseling 医学-公共卫生、环境卫生与职业卫生

CiteScore

5.60

自引率

11.40%

发文量

384

审稿时长

46 days

期刊介绍： Patient Education and Counseling is an interdisciplinary, international journal for patient education and health promotion researchers, managers and clinicians. The journal seeks to explore and elucidate the educational, counseling and communication models in health care. Its aim is to provide a forum for fundamental as well as applied research, and to promote the study of organizational issues involved with the delivery of patient education, counseling, health promotion services and training models in improving communication between providers and patients.