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Monitoring and blunting in palliative and curative radiotherapy consultations
Author(s) -
Timmermans Liesbeth M.,
van Zuuren Florence J.,
van der Maazen Richard W. M.,
Leer Jan Willem H.,
Kraaimaat Floris W.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
psycho‐oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.41
H-Index - 137
eISSN - 1099-1611
pISSN - 1057-9249
DOI - 10.1002/pon.1177
Subject(s) - medicine , coping (psychology) , palliative care , radiation therapy , radiation oncologist , cognition , disease , radiation oncology , oncology , family medicine , clinical psychology , nursing , psychiatry
Objective : The present research paper investigates how cancer patients' monitoring and blunting coping styles are reflected in their communications during their initial radiotherapy consultations and in their evaluations of the consultation. Additionally, it is explored how a patient's disease status (curative versus palliative) influences the effects of his or her cognitive styles. Methods : The study included 116 oncology patients receiving treatment from eight radiation oncologists. For 56 patients treatment intent was palliative and for the remaining 60 curative. The patients' communicative behaviors were assessed using the Roter Interaction Analysis System (RIAS). Within three days the patients completed a monitoring and blunting inventory and after another six weeks they evaluated the treatment decision and treatment information by postal questionnaire. Results : Monitoring was positively and blunting negatively related to the patient's expression of questions, emotions and decision‐making issues. After six weeks ‘high monitors’ as opposed to ‘low monitors’ reported having more doubts about the treatment decision and being less satisfied with the information received while ‘high blunters’ expressed fewer doubts and more satisfaction than ‘low blunters’ did. Significant associations were all attributable to the palliative treatment group. Conclusion : Cancer patients' communicative behaviors vis‐à‐vis their oncologist hinge on their cognitive styles and an unfavorable disease status enhances the effects. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.