DIFFERENCES IN ATTITUDE TOWARDS HEMATOPOIETIC STEM CELL TRANSPLANTATION (HSCT) BETWEEN PHYSICIANS AND NURSES
(Abstract release date: 05/19/16)
EHA Library. Pasvolsky O. 06/09/16; 135079; PB2179
Dr. Oren Pasvolsky
Contributions
Contributions
Abstract
Abstract: PB2179
Type: Publication Only
Background
Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a highly intensive medical procedure and the medical staff at a transplant unit experiences high levels of psychological distress. Since doctors and nurses differ in their clinical training, the level of professional indoctrination and in the duration and nature of exposure to the patients, we hypothesized that they hold different perspective towards the procedure.
Aims
To study how doctors and nurses perceive HCST and whether professional perspectives affect the attitude of physicians and nurses towards the procedure.
Methods
This is a single center study. All the nurses and physicians at our transplant unit were asked to fill out an electronic questionnaire that included 24 items. Five of the items were scenarios, each describing a clinical situation in which transplant is one of the therapeutic options. In order to ensure that the answers do not reflect differences in medical knowledge, there were only minimal or no medical clues to guide participants in these scenarios. Following each scenario, participants had to rank on a 1 to 5 Likert Scale whether they would undergo transplant or recommend it to their close relatives or friends under these circumstances, if this were their doctors' advice. Participants were also asked to rank their level of confidence in the transplant procedure. In addition, we included a work satisfaction questionnaire and basic demographic details were also documented.
Results
We delivered the questionnaire to 51 members of the medical staff, 23 doctors and 28 nurses, who work at our department. The median age was 40 (range: 24 to 78) years and 32 (63%) were females. Nurses were younger, more of them were unmarried and they had less professional experience. Nurses and doctors had similar distributions of male to female ratios, country of origin and both groups expressed similar levels of professional and religious beliefs. When asked directly, physicians and nurses expressed similar level of confidence in the process of HSCT. Intriguingly, only 21 (42%) of responders expressed a high degree of confidence in allogeneic transplantation, while 31 (62%) expressed a high degree of confidence in autologous transplantation. However, almost all doctors (20/21, 96%) but only 50% of nurses (14/28) expressed high levels of confidence in reduced intensity conditioning HSCT (P = .002). When asked if they would undergo transplant or recommend it to their close relatives, in 3 of 5 scenarios presented to responders significantly more nurses were reluctant to undergo transplant despite their doctors' recommendation.
Conclusion
At our transplant unit, the attitude of physicians and nurses towards HCST differs significantly. Physicians perceive the procedure in a more positive way and tend to consider undergoing HSCT themselves or recommend it to their relatives if indicated. Nurses more often tend to consider palliative care and express more critical attitude towards the procedure. This study exposes fundamental differences in the professional point-of view and we call for open discussions around these issues in which the various perspectives are expressed and acknowledged. We believe that this approach will ultimately improve the communication and prevent unnecessary confrontations among medical staff.
Session topic: E-poster
Type: Publication Only
Background
Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a highly intensive medical procedure and the medical staff at a transplant unit experiences high levels of psychological distress. Since doctors and nurses differ in their clinical training, the level of professional indoctrination and in the duration and nature of exposure to the patients, we hypothesized that they hold different perspective towards the procedure.
Aims
To study how doctors and nurses perceive HCST and whether professional perspectives affect the attitude of physicians and nurses towards the procedure.
Methods
This is a single center study. All the nurses and physicians at our transplant unit were asked to fill out an electronic questionnaire that included 24 items. Five of the items were scenarios, each describing a clinical situation in which transplant is one of the therapeutic options. In order to ensure that the answers do not reflect differences in medical knowledge, there were only minimal or no medical clues to guide participants in these scenarios. Following each scenario, participants had to rank on a 1 to 5 Likert Scale whether they would undergo transplant or recommend it to their close relatives or friends under these circumstances, if this were their doctors' advice. Participants were also asked to rank their level of confidence in the transplant procedure. In addition, we included a work satisfaction questionnaire and basic demographic details were also documented.
Results
We delivered the questionnaire to 51 members of the medical staff, 23 doctors and 28 nurses, who work at our department. The median age was 40 (range: 24 to 78) years and 32 (63%) were females. Nurses were younger, more of them were unmarried and they had less professional experience. Nurses and doctors had similar distributions of male to female ratios, country of origin and both groups expressed similar levels of professional and religious beliefs. When asked directly, physicians and nurses expressed similar level of confidence in the process of HSCT. Intriguingly, only 21 (42%) of responders expressed a high degree of confidence in allogeneic transplantation, while 31 (62%) expressed a high degree of confidence in autologous transplantation. However, almost all doctors (20/21, 96%) but only 50% of nurses (14/28) expressed high levels of confidence in reduced intensity conditioning HSCT (P = .002). When asked if they would undergo transplant or recommend it to their close relatives, in 3 of 5 scenarios presented to responders significantly more nurses were reluctant to undergo transplant despite their doctors' recommendation.
Conclusion
At our transplant unit, the attitude of physicians and nurses towards HCST differs significantly. Physicians perceive the procedure in a more positive way and tend to consider undergoing HSCT themselves or recommend it to their relatives if indicated. Nurses more often tend to consider palliative care and express more critical attitude towards the procedure. This study exposes fundamental differences in the professional point-of view and we call for open discussions around these issues in which the various perspectives are expressed and acknowledged. We believe that this approach will ultimately improve the communication and prevent unnecessary confrontations among medical staff.
Session topic: E-poster
Abstract: PB2179
Type: Publication Only
Background
Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a highly intensive medical procedure and the medical staff at a transplant unit experiences high levels of psychological distress. Since doctors and nurses differ in their clinical training, the level of professional indoctrination and in the duration and nature of exposure to the patients, we hypothesized that they hold different perspective towards the procedure.
Aims
To study how doctors and nurses perceive HCST and whether professional perspectives affect the attitude of physicians and nurses towards the procedure.
Methods
This is a single center study. All the nurses and physicians at our transplant unit were asked to fill out an electronic questionnaire that included 24 items. Five of the items were scenarios, each describing a clinical situation in which transplant is one of the therapeutic options. In order to ensure that the answers do not reflect differences in medical knowledge, there were only minimal or no medical clues to guide participants in these scenarios. Following each scenario, participants had to rank on a 1 to 5 Likert Scale whether they would undergo transplant or recommend it to their close relatives or friends under these circumstances, if this were their doctors' advice. Participants were also asked to rank their level of confidence in the transplant procedure. In addition, we included a work satisfaction questionnaire and basic demographic details were also documented.
Results
We delivered the questionnaire to 51 members of the medical staff, 23 doctors and 28 nurses, who work at our department. The median age was 40 (range: 24 to 78) years and 32 (63%) were females. Nurses were younger, more of them were unmarried and they had less professional experience. Nurses and doctors had similar distributions of male to female ratios, country of origin and both groups expressed similar levels of professional and religious beliefs. When asked directly, physicians and nurses expressed similar level of confidence in the process of HSCT. Intriguingly, only 21 (42%) of responders expressed a high degree of confidence in allogeneic transplantation, while 31 (62%) expressed a high degree of confidence in autologous transplantation. However, almost all doctors (20/21, 96%) but only 50% of nurses (14/28) expressed high levels of confidence in reduced intensity conditioning HSCT (P = .002). When asked if they would undergo transplant or recommend it to their close relatives, in 3 of 5 scenarios presented to responders significantly more nurses were reluctant to undergo transplant despite their doctors' recommendation.
Conclusion
At our transplant unit, the attitude of physicians and nurses towards HCST differs significantly. Physicians perceive the procedure in a more positive way and tend to consider undergoing HSCT themselves or recommend it to their relatives if indicated. Nurses more often tend to consider palliative care and express more critical attitude towards the procedure. This study exposes fundamental differences in the professional point-of view and we call for open discussions around these issues in which the various perspectives are expressed and acknowledged. We believe that this approach will ultimately improve the communication and prevent unnecessary confrontations among medical staff.
Session topic: E-poster
Type: Publication Only
Background
Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a highly intensive medical procedure and the medical staff at a transplant unit experiences high levels of psychological distress. Since doctors and nurses differ in their clinical training, the level of professional indoctrination and in the duration and nature of exposure to the patients, we hypothesized that they hold different perspective towards the procedure.
Aims
To study how doctors and nurses perceive HCST and whether professional perspectives affect the attitude of physicians and nurses towards the procedure.
Methods
This is a single center study. All the nurses and physicians at our transplant unit were asked to fill out an electronic questionnaire that included 24 items. Five of the items were scenarios, each describing a clinical situation in which transplant is one of the therapeutic options. In order to ensure that the answers do not reflect differences in medical knowledge, there were only minimal or no medical clues to guide participants in these scenarios. Following each scenario, participants had to rank on a 1 to 5 Likert Scale whether they would undergo transplant or recommend it to their close relatives or friends under these circumstances, if this were their doctors' advice. Participants were also asked to rank their level of confidence in the transplant procedure. In addition, we included a work satisfaction questionnaire and basic demographic details were also documented.
Results
We delivered the questionnaire to 51 members of the medical staff, 23 doctors and 28 nurses, who work at our department. The median age was 40 (range: 24 to 78) years and 32 (63%) were females. Nurses were younger, more of them were unmarried and they had less professional experience. Nurses and doctors had similar distributions of male to female ratios, country of origin and both groups expressed similar levels of professional and religious beliefs. When asked directly, physicians and nurses expressed similar level of confidence in the process of HSCT. Intriguingly, only 21 (42%) of responders expressed a high degree of confidence in allogeneic transplantation, while 31 (62%) expressed a high degree of confidence in autologous transplantation. However, almost all doctors (20/21, 96%) but only 50% of nurses (14/28) expressed high levels of confidence in reduced intensity conditioning HSCT (P = .002). When asked if they would undergo transplant or recommend it to their close relatives, in 3 of 5 scenarios presented to responders significantly more nurses were reluctant to undergo transplant despite their doctors' recommendation.
Conclusion
At our transplant unit, the attitude of physicians and nurses towards HCST differs significantly. Physicians perceive the procedure in a more positive way and tend to consider undergoing HSCT themselves or recommend it to their relatives if indicated. Nurses more often tend to consider palliative care and express more critical attitude towards the procedure. This study exposes fundamental differences in the professional point-of view and we call for open discussions around these issues in which the various perspectives are expressed and acknowledged. We believe that this approach will ultimately improve the communication and prevent unnecessary confrontations among medical staff.
Session topic: E-poster
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