Giovanna D'Antonio

Background/Objectives: In the context of evolving healthcare systems, effective communication represents a fundamental skill for ensuring quality care and addressing the psychosocial needs of oncology patients. In line with the new challenges of nursing education, this study explores communication between nurses and oncology patients, analyzing facilitating and hindering factors from the nurses’ perspective within the hospital setting. Methods: A descriptive qualitative study was conducted using one-on-one semi-structured interviews. The interviews lasted from 15 to 30 min. The study population consisted of nurses working in the Medical Oncology units of the Regina Elena Institute in Rome (IRE). Data were analyzed using the Framework Analysis method by Ritchie and Spencer. Results: The sample consisted of 20 nurses with an average age of 33.5 years. Six main themes emerged: communication as the pillar of the care relationship between technical and human aspects, the need for a balance between closeness and personal protection, the influence of language and personalized approaches on communication, the stimulation of specific training needs, and barriers to nursing communication. Conclusions: Nurses recognize communication as an integral part of the care process and as a key competency for addressing the complex needs of oncology patients. However, inadequate training, time constraints, and staff shortages represent significant barriers, highlighting the need to invest in specific training programs and organizational strategies to improve the quality of care.

Background: Communication is an important aspect in making patients competent to define, process, and manage their disease condition as well as to intercept and satisfy psychosocial needs. Communication between patient and nurse is central to the learning and orientating process since the nurse has the greatest frequency and continuity of relationship with patients and their families. This study aims to investigate the quality of communication between patient and nurse and the factors that promote or hinder effective communication from the oncology patient’s perspective within an inpatient hospital setting. Methods: A descriptive qualitative study was conducted with one-to-one semi-structured interviews analyzed using the Framework Analysis methodology. The population consisted of oncologic patients admitted to the Medical Oncology Units of the Regina Elena National Cancer Institute in Rome. Data were analyzed using Ritchie and Spencer’s Framework Analysis. Results: The sample comprised 20 patients, with an average age of 61.35, admitted to the Medical Oncology Units of the Regina Elena National Cancer Institute in Rome. Three themes emerged: positive communication as an element of care, factors fostering communication, and factors hindering communication. Conclusions: The sample interviewed deems the quality of communication satisfactory. Familiar communication style, direct language, and caring are factors fostering communication. In contrast, lack of communication between medical and nursing staff, shortage of staff, and lack of time are considered communication barriers. Advanced communication competencies in nurses are crucial for effectively addressing the emotional and psychosocial needs of cancer patients, fostering a more empathetic and supportive care environment.

Background: Communication is an important aspect in making patients competent to define, process, and manage their disease condition as well as to intercept and satisfy psychosocial needs. Communication between patient and nurse is central in the learning and orientating process since the nurse has the greatest frequency and continuity of relationship with patients and their families. Objective: To investigate the quality of communication between patient and nurse and the factors that promote or hinder effective communication from the oncology patient's perspective within an inpatient hospital setting. Methods: A descriptive qualitative study was conducted with one-to-one semi-structured interviews. The population consisted of oncologic patients admitted to the Medical Oncology Units of the Regina Elena National Cancer Institute in Rome. Data were analyzed using Ritchie and Spencer's Framework Analysis. Results: The sample comprised 20 patients, with an average age of 61.35, admitted to the Regina Elena Medical Oncology Units. Three themes emerged: positive communication as an element of care, factors fostering communication, and factors hindering communication. Conclusions: The sample interviewed deems the quality of communication satisfactory. Familiar communication style, direct language, and caring are factors fostering communication. In contrast, lack of communication between medical and nursing staff, shortage of staff, and lack of time are considered communication barriers. Advanced communication competencies in nurses are crucial for effectively addressing the emotional and psychosocial needs of cancer patients, fostering a more empathetic and supportive care environment.

Background: Women undergoing genetic counseling for hereditary breast cancer often experience a high emotional burden. Distress and stress in the initial phases of genetic counseling can be significant predictors of long-term psychological health, influencing quality of life and well-being. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the mediating role of psychophysical stress in the relationship of anxiety and depression with quality of life and well-being in women undergoing genetic counseling for BRCA1/2 mutations. Methods: A sample of 193 women from two genetic counseling clinics was assessed using validated questionnaires measuring the psychological variables under study. Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics were also considered. Results: The results of path analyses indicated a mediating role of psychophysical stress on the relationship between emotional distress and mental quality of life and well-being: higher levels of anxiety and depression were associated with increased psychophysical stress, which, in turn, was linked to a reduced perceived mental quality of life and well-being. Depression was the only significant psychological predictor of physical quality of life. Conclusions: These findings indicate that addressing both anxiety and depression in genetic counseling is crucial for enhancing mental and overall well-being. Interventions should focus on stress management to improve the quality of life, emphasizing depression treatment to enhance physical health outcomes.

Background: The oncology setting is characterized by various complexities, and healthcare professionals may experience stressful conditions associated with ethical decisions during daily clinical practice. Moral distress (MD) is a condition of distress that is generated when an individual would like to take action in line with their ethical beliefs but in conflict with the healthcare facility’s customs and/or organization. This study aims to describe the MD of oncology health professionals in different care settings. Methods: Descriptive quantitative study was conducted in the Operating Units of the Istituti Fisioterapici Ospitalieri in Rome between January and March 2022. The investigated sample consisted of the medical and nursing staff on duty at the facility, who were given a questionnaire through a web survey. Besides a brief sociodemographic form, the MD Scale-Revised questionnaire was used for data collection. Results: The sample consisted of nurses (51%) and physicians (49%), predominantly working in surgeries (48%), and having 20–30 years of service (30%). MD was higher among healthcare professionals, in medicine than that ing in corporate organizations, surgeries, or outpatient clinics (p = 0.007). It was not related to the profession (p = 0.163), gender (p = 0.103), or years of service (p = 0.610). Conclusions: This paper outlines the prevalence of MD in care settings and describes its relationship with profession, gender, and seniority. There is no patient care without the care of health professionals: knowing and fighting MD improves the safety of the treatments provided and the quality perceived by patients.