Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 28, 2025
Establishment of Cancer Stem Cell Cultures from Human Conventional Osteosarcoma
Published on: October 14, 2016
Paediatric oncology patients' definitions of a good physician and good nurse
Elif Aşikli1, Rahime Aydin Er2
1Independent researcher, Turkey.
Insights
Pediatric oncology patients define good doctors and nurses by their communication, virtues, and professional responsibility. Children want healthcare professionals who communicate well with families and involve them in treatment through play and information.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Oncology
- Qualitative Research
- Patient Experience
Background:
- Communication and disease experiences differ significantly between pediatric oncology patients and adults.
- Understanding these unique experiences is crucial for effective healthcare delivery.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine how elementary school-age pediatric oncology patients define a "good physician" and "good nurse."
- To gather insights into children's expectations of healthcare professionals.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative research employing semi-structured individual interviews.
- Thematic analysis was used to evaluate data from eighteen hospitalized children in pediatric oncology and hematology units.
- Ethical considerations, including informed consent and confidentiality, were strictly followed.
Main Results:
- Children's definitions of good healthcare professionals centered on five key themes: interpersonal relationships, virtues, professional responsibility, security, and individual characteristics.
- Key expectations included effective communication with both the child and their family.
- Children valued healthcare professionals who engaged them through play and provided clear information about their illness and treatment.
Conclusions:
- Pediatric oncology patients have distinct expectations for physicians and nurses, emphasizing strong communication and a supportive, interactive approach.
- Improving healthcare professionals' communication skills and incorporating play and activities into care plans can help meet these expectations.
- Addressing children's perspectives is vital for enhancing the overall treatment and care experience in pediatric oncology.
Background:
It is stated that the communication and disease experiences of paediatric patients, especially paediatric oncology patients, with healthcare professionals are completely different from those of adults.
Objective:
The aim of this study was to determine the definitions of a good physician and good nurse provided by elementary school-age oncology patients.
Research Design:
In this qualitative research, data were collected through semi-structured individual interviews. The data were evaluated thorough thematic analysis.
Participants And Research Context:
Eighteen children hospitalised due to cancer in paediatric oncology and haematology clinics of a university hospital in Turkey.
Ethical Considerations:
Permission to conduct the study was obtained from the Institution's Ethics Committee. The objectives of this study were explained to the participants and families, and written consent was obtained from them. Also, participants were assured that necessary measures would be taken to protect their anonymity and confidentiality.
Findings:
The definitions of children were based on five main themes: interpersonal relationships, virtues, professional responsibility, security and individual characteristics.
Conclusion:
Children conveyed important messages to health professionals. They emphasised that a good physician and good nurse should communicate well, not only with themselves but also with their family. In addition, children were sensitive about health professionals who played with them and actively participated in the treatment by informing them about the disease. Meeting the expectations of children can be possible by improving the communication skills of physicians and nurses and by adding games and activities to the treatment and care plan.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Nursing Ethical Principles II
Consider the following scenario, which illustrates how these principles are applied in the care of Mr. John, a fifty-year-old teacher diagnosed with metastatic liver cancer.
Initially, Mr. John's...
01:23Nurses' Legal Responsibilities II
Communication between nurses and...
01:27Ethical Issues
Ethical Concerns in Healthcare:
01:21Interdisciplinary Care: The Health Care Team-I
Physicians
The physician's primary responsibility is to diagnose illness and direct the medical or surgical treatment of the condition. The authority to admit patients to a healthcare agency or institution and practice care within that setting is granted to physicians by the healthcare agency or institution...
01:27Nurses' Legal Responsibilities I
The legal responsibilities of a nurse regarding informed consent include the following:
01:22The Professional Nurse
Communication skills: These are critical characteristics, especially speaking and listening.