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The Role of Communication in Cancer Management

Received: 11 January 2015     Accepted: 15 January 2015     Published: 30 January 2015
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Abstract

Background: Cancer management is increasingly being delivered within a multidisciplinary team (MDT) environment, involving several highly skilled professionals. There is therefore a good indication of the importance of good and effective communication skills within these collaborative care teams. Aim: The study examined the process of communication, information transfer and collaboration among the MDT in cancer management. Methods: A quantitative descriptive survey using a semi structured questionnaire was administered to Forty five (45) multidisciplinary health professionals. Data collected was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS) version 18.0 and discussions were based on the responses from the participants. Results: More than half (54.5%) of the respondents used verbal communication whiles 31.8% described telephone as the most difficult mode of communication for them. Lack of additional education in communication skills was identified among 75% of the respondents. There were 29.5% of the respondents who indicated that Staff especially the seniors show disrespect to the juniors. In all, 34 % of the participants had no idea about whether protocols or guidelines in communication existed. Conclusion: There was a high level collaboration level among the MDT involved in the management of cancer. Most of these professionals however, had no further education in communication skills and several recommendations were on In-Service Trainings be organize for the various disciplines on regular basis for all the staff.

Published in Cancer Research Journal (Volume 3, Issue 1)
DOI 10.11648/j.crj.20150301.11
Page(s) 1-5
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2015. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Communication, Collaboration, Cancer Care, Professional, MDT

References
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[7] Royal College of Surgeons in England, (2007). Safe Handover: Guidance from the Working Time, Directive Working Party. Guidance on Safe Handover. London.
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Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Kofi Adesi Kyei, William Kwadwo Antwi, Michael Osei, Lawrence Arthur, James Newlife Kwadzo Gawugah. (2015). The Role of Communication in Cancer Management. Cancer Research Journal, 3(1), 1-5. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.crj.20150301.11

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    ACS Style

    Kofi Adesi Kyei; William Kwadwo Antwi; Michael Osei; Lawrence Arthur; James Newlife Kwadzo Gawugah. The Role of Communication in Cancer Management. Cancer Res. J. 2015, 3(1), 1-5. doi: 10.11648/j.crj.20150301.11

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    AMA Style

    Kofi Adesi Kyei, William Kwadwo Antwi, Michael Osei, Lawrence Arthur, James Newlife Kwadzo Gawugah. The Role of Communication in Cancer Management. Cancer Res J. 2015;3(1):1-5. doi: 10.11648/j.crj.20150301.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.crj.20150301.11,
      author = {Kofi Adesi Kyei and William Kwadwo Antwi and Michael Osei and Lawrence Arthur and James Newlife Kwadzo Gawugah},
      title = {The Role of Communication in Cancer Management},
      journal = {Cancer Research Journal},
      volume = {3},
      number = {1},
      pages = {1-5},
      doi = {10.11648/j.crj.20150301.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.crj.20150301.11},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.crj.20150301.11},
      abstract = {Background: Cancer management is increasingly being delivered within a multidisciplinary team (MDT) environment, involving several highly skilled professionals. There is therefore a good indication of the importance of good and effective communication skills within these collaborative care teams. Aim: The study examined the process of communication, information transfer and collaboration among the MDT in cancer management. Methods: A quantitative descriptive survey using a semi structured questionnaire was administered to Forty five (45) multidisciplinary health professionals. Data collected was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS) version 18.0 and discussions were based on the responses from the participants. Results: More than half (54.5%) of the respondents used verbal communication whiles 31.8% described telephone as the most difficult mode of communication for them. Lack of additional education in communication skills was identified among 75% of the respondents. There were 29.5% of the respondents who indicated that Staff especially the seniors show disrespect to the juniors. In all, 34 % of the participants had no idea about whether protocols or guidelines in communication existed. Conclusion: There was a high level collaboration level among the MDT involved in the management of cancer. Most of these professionals however, had no further education in communication skills and several recommendations were on In-Service Trainings be organize for the various disciplines on regular basis for all the staff.},
     year = {2015}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - The Role of Communication in Cancer Management
    AU  - Kofi Adesi Kyei
    AU  - William Kwadwo Antwi
    AU  - Michael Osei
    AU  - Lawrence Arthur
    AU  - James Newlife Kwadzo Gawugah
    Y1  - 2015/01/30
    PY  - 2015
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.crj.20150301.11
    DO  - 10.11648/j.crj.20150301.11
    T2  - Cancer Research Journal
    JF  - Cancer Research Journal
    JO  - Cancer Research Journal
    SP  - 1
    EP  - 5
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2330-8214
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.crj.20150301.11
    AB  - Background: Cancer management is increasingly being delivered within a multidisciplinary team (MDT) environment, involving several highly skilled professionals. There is therefore a good indication of the importance of good and effective communication skills within these collaborative care teams. Aim: The study examined the process of communication, information transfer and collaboration among the MDT in cancer management. Methods: A quantitative descriptive survey using a semi structured questionnaire was administered to Forty five (45) multidisciplinary health professionals. Data collected was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS) version 18.0 and discussions were based on the responses from the participants. Results: More than half (54.5%) of the respondents used verbal communication whiles 31.8% described telephone as the most difficult mode of communication for them. Lack of additional education in communication skills was identified among 75% of the respondents. There were 29.5% of the respondents who indicated that Staff especially the seniors show disrespect to the juniors. In all, 34 % of the participants had no idea about whether protocols or guidelines in communication existed. Conclusion: There was a high level collaboration level among the MDT involved in the management of cancer. Most of these professionals however, had no further education in communication skills and several recommendations were on In-Service Trainings be organize for the various disciplines on regular basis for all the staff.
    VL  - 3
    IS  - 1
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Department of Radiography, School of Biomedical and Allied Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Korle-Bu, Accra, Ghana

  • Department of Radiography, School of Biomedical and Allied Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Korle-Bu, Accra, Ghana

  • Department of Radiography, School of Biomedical and Allied Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Korle-Bu, Accra, Ghana

  • National Centre for Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicine, Korle-Bu, Accra, Ghana

  • Department of Radiography, School of Biomedical and Allied Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Korle-Bu, Accra, Ghana

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