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Providers’ Perceptions of Communication Breakdowns in Cancer Care

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Journal of General Internal Medicine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

A Capsule Commentary to this article was published on 03 April 2014

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND

Communication breakdowns in cancer care are common and represent a failure in patient-centered care. While multiple studies have elicited patients’ perspectives on these breakdowns, little is known about cancer care providers’ attitudes regarding the causes and potential solutions.

OBJECTIVE

To examine providers’ (1) perceptions of the nature and causes of communication breakdowns with patients in cancer care and (2) suggestions for managing and preventing breakdowns.

DESIGN

Qualitative study of nine focus groups held at three sites (Massachusetts, Georgia and Washington).

PARTICIPANTS

Fifty-nine providers: 33 % primary care physicians, 14 % oncologists, 36 % nurses, and 17 % nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and others.

APPROACH

Directed content analysis of focus group transcripts.

KEY RESULTS

Providers’ perceptions of the causes of communication breakdowns fell into three categories: causes related to patients, providers, or healthcare systems. Providers perceived that patients sometimes struggle to understand cancer and health-related information, have unrealistic expectations, experience emotional and psychological distress that interferes with information exchange; and may be reticent to share their confusion or concerns. Providers described their own and colleagues’ contributions to these breakdowns as sharing inaccurate, conflicting, or uncoordinated information. Providers also described the difficulty in balancing hope with reality in discussions of prognosis. System issues named by providers included insufficient time with patients, payment systems, and changing protocols that inhibit communication and coordination of care. Potential solutions included greater patient engagement, team coordination, and systems that promote patient feedback.

CONCLUSIONS

Providers described multiple causes for communication breakdowns at the patient, provider, and system level. Multi-level interventions that coordinate care and encourage feedback may help to address or prevent communication breakdowns.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by Award Number CA-P20-137219 from the National Cancer Institute.

Portions of this work have been presented at the HMORN Annual Meeting in Boston MA, 2011.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare that they do not have a conflict of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA

    Carolyn D. Prouty DVM & Thomas H. Gallagher MD

  2. Meyers Primary Care Institute, Reliant Medical Group, Fallon Community Health Plan, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA

    Kathleen M. Mazor EdD, Cassandra L. Firneno BA & Celeste A. Lemay MPH

  3. Group Health Cooperative, Group Health Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA

    Sarah M. Greene MPH

  4. Kaiser Permanente Georgia, Center for Health Research, Atlanta, GA, USA

    Douglas W. Roblin PhD & Brandi E. Robinson MPH

Authors
  1. Carolyn D. Prouty DVM
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  2. Kathleen M. Mazor EdD
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  5. Cassandra L. Firneno BA
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  6. Celeste A. Lemay MPH
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  8. Thomas H. Gallagher MD
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Correspondence to Thomas H. Gallagher MD.

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Prouty, C.D., Mazor, K.M., Greene, S.M. et al. Providers’ Perceptions of Communication Breakdowns in Cancer Care. J GEN INTERN MED 29, 1122–1130 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-014-2769-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-014-2769-1

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