Biomedical subjects

Penelope E Schofield

Publications and source records attributed to Penelope E Schofield.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2004

Towards better communication in cancer care: a framework for developing evidence-based interventions.

Increasing recognition of the complexity and difficulty of communication in patient care has led to a burgeoning but chaotic literature that tends to be incomplete on any one topic. A co-ordinated, planned approach is required to facilitate the rapid development and implementation of evidence-based interventions in this area. We propose a seven-stage model of communication research that is designed to provide clear directions to improve communication in cancer care. The stages are: (1) identification of communication difficulties; (2) documentation of patient and clinician views; (3) identification of practices associated with better outcomes; (4) the development of evidence-based guidelines and interventions; (5) testing the effectiveness of the intervention in changing current practice and improving patient outcomes; (6) dissemination of the effective interventions; and (7) broad adoption of the intervention. Examples are provided for each stage of research to elucidate the type of study proposed.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗

PubMed2003

How oncologists discuss complementary therapy use with their patients: an audio-tape audit.

Understanding the dynamics of oncologist-patient communication regarding complementary therapy (CT) use is essential for the development of much-needed clinical guidelines. Discussions of CT use in 314 audio-taped initial consultations between cancer patients and their oncologists were identified and coded. Patients' anxiety levels and coping styles were also assessed. Reference to CT use was found in 91 consultations (29%). Patients and kin initiated most CT discussions, commonly during discussions of patients' medical history, treatment options or prognosis. In half of these discussions, patients volunteered that they were currently using a CT or were considering its use. Discussion of CT use was more likely to occur in consultations with patients who were younger, were better educated, spoke poorer English, had metastatic disease or limited life expectancy and expressed higher levels of fighting spirit and anxious preoccupation and lower levels of fatalism. The most commonly discussed CTs were: changes in diet; use of multivitamins, vitamin C or antioxidants; and having a positive attitude or fighting spirit. The doctor's overall response to CTs was most frequently coded as "encouraging", although 35% of attempts to initiate discussion were ignored by the oncologist. Doctors were more likely to make encouraging statements about CTs typically perceived to be potentially helpful versus potentially harmful. The current findings point to a need for practical consensus on how to communicate with cancer patients on the subject of CT use so that patients can receive the support and guidance that they are seeking from their oncologists.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed2003

Youth culture and smoking: Integrating social group processes and individual cognitive processes in a model of health-related behaviours.

This article assesses four theoretical models proposed to predict future smoking. Young adults were surveyed at three six-month intervals, the first occurring three months after leaving school. Models 1 and 2 were versions of theory of triadic influence (TTI), which links a person's behavioural experience and cognitions to their future behaviour. Model 1 did not fit the data; the fit of model 2 was just adequate. Model 3 combined TTI and self-categorization theory (ST), by allowing norms of the individual's peer group to influence cognitions and future behaviour. It fitted the data well. Model 4, which extended model, provided the best fit. Strength of identification to the peer group was found to enhance the effect of the peer group norm.

Adolescent↗