Factors Affecting the Levels of Satisfaction With Nurse-Patient Communication Among Oncology Patients

Background Nurse-patient communication is of the utmost importance to oncology patients. Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the factors influencing the level of satisfaction with nurse-patient communication among oncology patients during their daily routine procedures. Methods In this observational study, 25 registered nurses and 94 patients were recruited from an oncology unit. The patients were asked to complete a concern checklist before and after each admission, administration of medication, and wound-dressing procedure. Nonverbal cues expressed by the nurses and patients were noted on the checklist during these nursing procedures. Results The results showed that patients at stage 3 cancer and patients receiving admission procedures were significantly more satisfied with their communication with nurses compared with those who were more concerned about the impact of the disease on self-care. Conclusions Cancer stage, time of admission, and psychological concern related to self-care ability are the potential factors affecting the satisfaction level of nurse-patient communication. Implications for Nursing Emphasis could be placed on utilizing the time of admission to interact with patients in a busy environment to strive for better communication with oncology patients. The results underscore the importance of applying the self-care enhancement approach for hospitalized cancer patients.