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Patients’ experience of important factors in the healthcare environment in oncology care

M. Browall,I. Koinberg,H. Falk,H. Wijk

Published 2013 in International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health & Well-Being

ABSTRACT

Background and objective The aim of this study was to describe what factors of the healthcare environment are perceived as being important to patients in oncology care. Design A qualitative design was adopted using focus group interviews. Setting and participants The sample was 11 patients with different cancer diagnoses in an oncology ward at a university hospital in west Sweden. Results Analysis of the patients’ perceptions of the environment indicated a complex entity comprising several aspects. These came together in a structure consisting of three main categories: safety, partnership with the staff, and physical space. The care environment is perceived as a complex entity, made up of several physical and psychosocial aspects, where the physical factors are subordinated by the psychosocial factors. It is clearly demonstrated that the patients’ primary desire was a psychosocial environment where they were seen as a unique person; the patients wanted opportunities for good encounters with staff, fellow patients, and family members, supported by a good physical environment; and the patients valued highly a place to withdraw and rest. Conclusions This study presents those attributes that are valued by cancer patients as crucial and important for the support of their well-being and functioning. The results show that physical aspects were subordinate to psychosocial factors, which emerged strongly as being the most important in a caring environment.

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