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Emotional concerns in follow‐up consultations between paediatric oncologists and adolescent survivors: a video‐based observational study
Author(s) -
Mellblom A. V.,
Finset A.,
Korsvold L.,
Loge J. H.,
Ruud E.,
Lie H. C.
Publication year - 2014
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.3568
Subject(s) - observational study , medicine , pediatrics , family medicine
Objective The present study aimed to explore (a) to what extent adolescent cancer survivors express emotional concerns during follow‐up consultations, (b) the content of these expressions, and (c) the responses to their concerns by the paediatric haemato‐oncologists (oncologists). Methods Sixty‐six follow‐up consultations between adolescent patients (aged 12–20 years old; mean = 16) and oncologists ( n = 10) were video recorded. Emotional concerns were coded using the Verona coding definitions of emotional sequences (VR‐CoDES). The content of the concerns was analysed using thematic analysis. Results Emotional concerns ( n = 115) were identified in 50% of the consultations. Of the concerns, 87% were expressed implicitly as hints to the underlying emotion (cues) rather than explicitly (concerns). The oncologists elicited 66.9% of these expressions. Four main categories of emotional concerns were identified in the thematic analysis: physical (31%), psychological (29%), social (17%), and cancer related (23%). The majority (76.5%) of the oncologists' responses to the cues and/or concerns provided space for further disclosure. The oncologists responded less explicitly to the emotional aspects of physical and cancer‐related issues in comparison with the cues or concerns of psychological origin. More cues and concerns were expressed when parents were not present in the consultation. Conclusions In this study, almost half of the adolescent patients presented emotional concerns, and a subgroup presented many concerns; these were mainly expressed when initiated by the oncologists. Oncologists should therefore be attentive to hints to underlying emotions to help the adolescent bring forward his or her concerns. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.