Nursing Care Behaviours and Challenges Faced During Truth-Telling: A Phenomenological Study

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Healthcare Ethics
• Qualitative Research

Background:

• Truth-telling in nursing, especially in oncology and intensive care, is ethically complex.
• It requires effective communication and emotional support when delivering difficult news to patients and families.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine nurses' care behaviors during truth-telling in oncology and intensive care.
• To identify the challenges nurses face in the truth-telling process.

Main Methods:

• Phenomenological design with purposive and maximum variation sampling.
• In-depth interviews with 16 nurses from various hospitals in Türkiye.
• Data analyzed using a descriptive phenomenological approach, adhering to COREQ guidelines.

Main Results:

• Three themes emerged: 'the first thing that comes to the Light of Truth,' 'the Language of Care,' and 'the Thorn of the Rose.'
• Nurses demonstrated understanding, empathic listening, respect, open communication, and therapeutic touch.
• Nurses identified managing emotional responses as the most significant challenge.

Conclusions:

• Nurses employ various care behaviors to support patients and families during truth-telling.
• Coping with emotional responses, both from others and personally, is the most demanding aspect of truth-telling for nurses.