Talking to Cancer Patients and Their Relatives

by Faulkner, Ann; Maguire, Peter

• ISBN13: 9780192624796
• ISBN10: 0192624792
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1995-01-26
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

Why do health professionals find it difficult to communicate effectively with cancer patients and their relatives? Doctors, nurses, and other workers in cancer care are increasingly aware of the need to improve the effectiveness of their interaction with this group, and with their own colleagues. This book describes the ways in which they can improve their ability to recognize and respond to the physical, psychological, and spiritual problems which cancer patients experience. The emphasis is on practical guidelines that have been tested over the years in clinical practice and validated by those using them, and, therefore, are known to be effective. These are illustrated by real dialogues. This is the first time these guidelines have been put together in such a comprehensive form. L The authors focus primarily on the skills and strategies needed for effective communications between health professionals and patients trying to adapt to a fear-provoking diagnosis and an uncertain future. The book also gives advice to health professionals on how to deal with their own emotional response to the challenges they face in working with seriously ill people.

Table of Contents

Psychological Distress: Its Recognition and Management

'Distancing' by Health Professionals

Patient Assessment: Structure and Content

Patient Assessment: Skills

Breaking the News to Patients

Monitoring Progress

Recognizing and Handling Difficult Personal Interactions

Handling Conflict in Cancer Care

Talking to Relatives

Spiritual Issues

Assessing the Bereaved

The Psychological Costs of Caring for Cancer Patients

Training in Communication Skills

Training Resources Available

Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.