Getting as much information as possible about their diagnosis and treatment is the most important aspect for patients when they receive bad news from their doctors, a new survey reveals.
However, medical personnel regard providing information as less important when communicating bad news to patients and feel it is more important to support and facilitate them as much as possible.
The study, conducted by post-graduate student Threasa Ní Uiginn and Molly Byrne, lecturer at the department of psychology at NUI Galway, was presented at the annual conference of the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI) in Galway at the weekend.
They surveyed nearly 70 patients who had received a diagnosis of diabetes, as well as 60 GP trainees and a similar number of fifth-year medical students.
"The most significant finding of the study is that for patients, the most important thing is getting information about their diagnosis and treatment, whereas the medical students and GP trainees reported support and facilitation, such as helping patients to work out how to tell other family members, as being the most important aspects when breaking bad news to a patient," said Ms Byrne.
The PSI conference also heard about a pilot rehabilitation programme to improve the quality of life of cancer survivors through diet, exercise and anxiety reduction. The programme is being funded by the HSE east coast and developed by UCD researchers.
Although the majority of cancer survivors get on well with their lives after cancer, a new study has revealed that 13 per cent of survivors continued to smoke and 48 per cent gained weight after their treatment finished.
