The 'information spectrum': a qualitative study of how breast cancer surgeons give information and of how their patients experience it

Mendick, Nicola, Young, Bridget ORCID: 0000-0001-6041-9901, Holcombe, Christopher and Salmon, Peter ORCID: 0000-0001-6450-5209 (2013) The 'information spectrum': a qualitative study of how breast cancer surgeons give information and of how their patients experience it PSYCHO-ONCOLOGY, 22 (10). pp. 2364-2371. ISSN 1057-9249, 1099-1611

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Abstract

Objective Cancer clinicians are routinely criticised for communicating information poorly to patients, but expert guidance is sometimes contradictory or impractical. We wanted to understand how, and how well, breast cancer surgeons in their normal practice balanced the competing tasks of informing patients while keeping them hopeful. Method In a post-operative surgical outpatient clinic in a UK breast unit, we recruited 9 surgeons and 20 breast cancer patients with whom they consulted. We audio recorded and interviewed both patients and surgeons about their consultations, then analysed data qualitatively within and across cases taking a constant comparative approach. Results Every consultation contained biomedical factually explicit information, but the information that was most significant for patients was factually less explicit. Progressively less explicit forms, along a 'spectrum' of information, included: judgments about treatment implications; judgments about prognosis; evaluative comments; and clues about what information signified. Surgeons used the less explicit types of information to communicate hope. Where prognosis was poor, communication was confined to more explicit information. Surgeons' practice was closely aligned with what patients sought. Conclusion Common criticisms of cancer clinicians for giving 'too little' information belie the complexity of their task in simultaneously managing information needs and hope. The 'information spectrum' could help educators and clinicians to understand this task. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	## TULIP Type: Articles/Papers (Journal) ##
Uncontrolled Keywords:	cancer, oncology, information-giving, qualitative research, breast cancer
Divisions:	Faculty of Health & Life Sciences Faculty of Health & Life Sciences > Inst. Population Health
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	12 Mar 2024 11:53
Last Modified:	16 Jun 2026 04:18
DOI:	10.1002/pon.3301
Related Websites:	Author Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3179281
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