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Caring for cancer patients with an intellectual disability: Attitudes and care perceptions of UK oncology nurses
Flynn, Samantha Hulbert-Williams, Lee Bramwell, Ros Stevens-Gill, Debbie Hulbert-Williams, Nicholas J.
Flynn, Samantha
Hulbert-Williams, Lee
Bramwell, Ros
Stevens-Gill, Debbie
Hulbert-Williams, Nicholas J.
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EPub Date
Publication Date
2015-05-08
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Abstract
Background: Caring for people with cancer or an intellectual disability (ID) is stressful: little is known about the combined impact of caring for cancer patients with an ID, though this is expected to be especially challenging. Method: Eighty-three nurses, working in oncology or a related field (i.e. palliative care) were recruited. Perceptions of caring for patients with and without an ID were measured, alongside potentially confounding information about participant demographic characteristics and perceived stress. Results: Participants felt less comfortable communicating with patients with an ID about their illness (F(1,82) = 59.52, p <0.001), more reliant on a caregiver for communication (F(1,82) = 26.29, p < 0.001), and less confident that the patient's needs would be identified (F(1,82) = 42.03, p < 0.001) and met (F(1,81) = 62.90, p < 0.001). Participants also believed that caring for this patient group would induce more stress, compared with patients without an ID (F(1,81) = 31.592, p < 0.001). Previous experience working with ID patient groups appears to mitigate some perceptions about providing care to this population. Conclusions: Caring for cancer patients with an ID may intensify this, already difficult, role. Through training and knowledge exchange, oncology nurse's confidence in communication, providing appropriate care, and positivity towards this patient group may be improved.
Citation
Flynn, S., Hulbert-Williams, L., Bramwell, R., Stevens-Gill, D., & Hulbert-Williams, N. (2015). Caring for cancer patients with an intellectual disability: Attitudes and care perceptions of UK oncology nurses. European Journal of Oncology Nursing, 19(5), 568-574. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ejon.2015.03.002
Publisher
Elsevier
Journal
European Journal of Oncology Nursing
Research Unit
DOI
10.1016/j.ejon.2015.03.002
PubMed ID
PubMed Central ID
Type
Article
Language
en
Description
NOTICE: this is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in European Journal of Oncology Nursing. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in European Journal of Oncology Nursing, vol. 19, issue 5 (2015) 10.1016/j.ejon.2015.03.002
Series/Report no.
ISSN
1462-3889
EISSN
1532-2122