Communication – the foundation for collaborative relationships amongst providers, and between providers and patients: A case in breast and colorectal cancer

Abstract

Objectives

A national needs assessment was undertaken to determine the challenges, and their underlying causes experienced by Canadian healthcare providers caring for persons with breast or colorectal cancer, in their inter-professional and patient–provider clinical relationships.

Methods and sample

A mixed-methods approach using an exploratory qualitative phase (semi-structured interviews), and a confirmatory quantitative phase (online survey) was employed. Sample included 223 providers.

Results

Six challenges associated with patient–provider communication, were identified: providing emotional support, using language that a patient can understand, adjusting to the patient's informational needs, facilitating patients’ participation in screening programs, empowering patients to participate actively in treatment decisions, and balancing treatment with impact on quality of life. Four additional challenges were reflective of inter-professional care issues: communication between oncology team and referring physicians, collective, and systematic medication reconciliation process, facilitation of patients’ navigation through the continuum of care, and referral of patients in psychosocial distress.

Discussion

This study highlighted the importance of assessing communication and collaboration skills and clinical behaviours of healthcare providers in order to provide complete and relevant educational recommendations. These findings could guide the design of educational programs and stimulate reflection amongst healthcare providers on the delivery of care to patients with breast or colorectal cancer.

Keywords:

• Breast cancer
• Colorectal cancer
• Communication
• Interdisciplinary health team
• Needs assessment

Acknowledgements

This study was conducted by AXDEV Group. Invaluable support was provided by Dr Sunil Verma, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and University of Toronto, as well as Maria Vasilache, Assistant Project Manager, Karim Hamati, Project Coordinator, and Biagina-Carla Farnesi, Research Assistant, AXDEV Group. This study was financially supported with unrestricted educational research funds from Sanofi Canada.

Author information

Patrice Lazure has an extensive background in clinically applied healthcare research. He is a researcher at AXDEV Group, a leading organization that specializes in assisting healthcare organizations and stakeholders improve professional competencies, interdisciplinary team practices, organizational functioning, and clinical practice efficiency.

France St-Germain is National Education Manager in Oncology, at Sanofi Canada.

Robert Gryfe is a colorectal surgical oncologist at Mount Sinai Hospital, a professor at the Univerity of Toronto, and a researcher at Mount Sinai's Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute.

Maureen Trudeau is a medical oncologist, specializing in breast cancer. She is currently Head of the Division of Medical Oncology/Hematology at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Associate Scientist at the Sunnybrook Research Institute and Professor of Medicine at the University of Toronto.

Sean Hayes trained and practiced as a clinical psychologist specializing in stress and trauma. He is the General Manager at AXDEV Group. He is also a board member of The National Institute for Quality Improvement and Education (NIQIE), and has acted as Task Force Chair for the Alliance for Continuing Education in the Health Professions, and for Medbiquitous.