Elephants and Tea - June 2020 - 37

strates both positive and negative
factors that participants described as
contributing in the overall experience
in learning the diagnosis.
Main factors contributing to a less
negative experience in receiving the
diagnosis were: emphatic and professional approach, feeling supported
by the medical team and receiving
adequate, yet not overwhelming
information.
We should strive to promote these
aspects in care so that everyone can
feel equally cared for.
Adequate info = participants report
being happy with the amount of relevant information about their disease
and treatment;
Treatment Plan = Having a clear
plan and steps ahead;
Over the phone - pos/neg = learning the diagnosis over the phone was
positive for some while negative for
others;
Preparation = feeling prepared for
the bad news;
Validation = validation of emotional distress;
Assumed experience = because of
medical background medical doctors assumed the patients was well
informed about the disease;
Delay or mistake = lag in diagnosis
or misdiagnosis;
Minimizing = telling patients they

Positive and negative factors in learning the diagnosis
Preparation
Validation

Over the phone − pos

Prompt diagnosis
Treatment plan

Adequate info

Medical team support

Empathy

Rating

Professional approach
Assumed experience

Negative

Bad timing

Positive

Delay or mistake

Over the phone − neg
Inadequate info

Overwhelming info
Minimizing

Lack of dignity

Lack of empathy
Rushed

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

Number of times endorsed

have a "good cancer";
Rushed = feeling rushed through
the diagnosis.
CAN I GET INVOLVED?
PLEASE DO!
If you would like to participate, just
scroll through and follow the direct
links to the online study (http://tiny.
cc/oxford_study)!
The only entry criteria are the
following:
* Current age: 18+
* Any cancer diagnosis, type, or
stage
* Must have been diagnosed at age
10 or later
* Can read and write in English
More information on how your data
and information will be stored and

10

11

12

13

secured is available on the consent
form, which you will be asked to review prior to participating.
In line with our efforts to understand how cancer patients and their
caretakers are coping during the
current pandemic, we have a short
survey on covid-19 impact (http://
tiny.cc/covid-survey)!!
To participate in the main study,
follow this link: http://tiny.cc/
oxford_study
If you have an extra 5 minutes and
are a cancer patient OR a caretaker
and want to let us know how you are
doing during COVID-19 please follow
this link: http://tiny.cc/covid-survey
Stay well and safe!
Until the next time.

➥ URŠKA KOSI R IS A N AV I D PAT I E N T A N D PU BL IC H E A LT H A DVO C AT E , A YOU NG R E SE A RC H E R
A N D A PH D C A N DI DAT E I N E X PE R I M E N TA L P S YC HOL O GY AT OX FOR D U N I V E R SI T Y.
H E R WOR K FO C USE S ON A DA P TAT ION OF YOU NG C A NC E R PAT I E N T S A N D SU RV I VOR S .
PA RT IC U L A R LY, SH E IS E X PL OR I NG HOW YOU NG PE OPL E DE V E L OP R E SI L I E NC E A N D HOPE
TO C ON T R I BU T E TO T H E F I E L D OF P S YC HOS O C I A L ONC OL O GY BY F I N DI NG BE T T E R WAYS TO
H E L P E V E RYON E FAC I NG T H IS DI AGNOSIS . I N H E R WOR K SH E E M PL OYS M I X E D M E T HODS ,
M E A N I NG T H AT SH E D OE S E V E RY T H I NG F ROM FAC E TO FAC E I N T E RV I E WS TO C OM PL E X
S TAT IS T IC A L MODE L S , W I T H W H IC H SH E T R I E S TO E X PL A I N HOW VA R IOUS FAC TOR S
C ON T R I BU T E TO ON E ' S W E L L BE I NG .

ELEPHANTSANDTEA.COM
JUNE 2020

37
http://www.tiny.cc/covid-survey http://www.tiny.cc/oxford_study http://www.tiny.cc/covid-survey http://www.tiny.cc/oxford_study http://www.tiny.cc/oxford_study http://www.tiny.cc/oxford_study http://www.tiny.cc/covid-survey http://www.elephantsandtea.com
Elephants and Tea - June 2020

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