Friday Program

Education Session | Lunch Debates | EHA / ESH Joint Symposium | Meet-the-Expert | Opening Ceremony | Molecular Hematopoiesis Workshop | Poster Session I

ESH-EHA JOINT SYMPOSIUM
11:15 – 12:30, Hall C4

COMMUNICATION WITH TRANSPLANT PATIENTS
THE COMPLEMENTARY ROLES OF DOCTORS AND NURSES.
AN INTERACTIVE SESSION FOR HEMATOLOGISTS.

High-risk treatment strategies such as allogeneic stem-cell transplantation carry with them the potential for great therapeutic benefit for patients but also the risk of failure with disastrous consequences. The ideal management of patients during and after the transplant procedure is dependent on the smooth integration of roles within the transplant team and the different
contributions made by medical and nursing staff are equally important in ensuring the highest quality of care. Patients undergoing allogeneic transplantation naturally hold very high hopes of success and their expectations are raised to match the severity of the underlying disease, so for them, failure is not an outcome that they wish to contemplate. Contrasts clearly exist between the roles of nurses and doctors not only with regard to their clinical input into patient management but also for the nature of the communication and support that patients receive. Doctors have traditionally focused their communication with patients on gathering and offering information; they seldom engage in consultations that have a counselling or therapeutic intent although they may use the consultation
to obtain agreement to a treatment plan. In consultations where bad news is being imparted, patients may easily misinterpret information or simply become unable to take in the implications of the news. By contrast, nurses may find a therapeutic role easier to offer; they are increasingly willing to cast
themselves as ‘the patient’s advocate’ with a function that includes listening to and consoling patients who have received bad news. Therapeutic listening is the basis of discussions such as this and the nurse should try to hear the meaning behind the patient’s words so that real insight is gained into the
patient’s experience in a manner that avoids making judgements. Without assigning stereotypes to the roles undertaken by doctors and nurses, patients may well have the need for both of these contrasting functions from their transplant team. Skills in communication are necessary to deliver both roles and although styles and approaches may vary, keeping the patient’s best interests at the heart of the consultation should always be the highest priority.