Methodological challenges of developing a tool to measure patient recall and understanding from a Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) consultation

Iqbal, Shehnaz (2014) Methodological challenges of developing a tool to measure patient recall and understanding from a Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) consultation. D Clin Psy thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

Background: In comparison to other medical appointments, consultations regarding haematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) tend to be emotional and longer due to the high volume and content of information exchanged between the patient and consultant. HSCT offers the potential to cure the cancer but also carries a multitude of life-threatening side effects. Existing research has shown that patients immediately forget the majority of information they receive in medical consultations thus resulting in misunderstandings about treatment, adjustments and about coping post transplant. Despite this, no previous research has evaluated cancer patients’ level of recall and understanding considering the volume of information they receive from doctors during consultation for HSCT.
Aim: To create, within a haemato-oncology setting, a coding framework capable of evaluating the interaction between the patient and doctor in the HSCT consultation.
Methods: The medical consultations of five HSCT patients who were eligible for HSCT were recorded and these patients subsequently completed semi-structured interviews. Transcripts were analysed using directed content analysis. A recall and understanding information template (RUIT) with an associated coding framework was developed and piloted.
Results: The procedures undertaken in developing the RUIT demonstrate strong inter-rater reliability and content validity. Further testing, through piloting the instrument, indicated that the RUIT coding system has strong inter-rater agreement. However, disparity in the classification of some categories was also revealed. Cancer patient’s viewed the consultation as informative but also felt that both the content and volume of information they received were difficult to process.
Conclusions: This study is the first qualitative investigation of cancer patients’ recall and understanding of content from a HSCT consultation through the unique development of a coding framework. Future use of the RUIT in clinical practice and recommendations for further research are discussed in relation to the relevant literature.

• Item Type: Thesis (D Clin Psy)
• Qualification Level: Doctoral
• Keywords: Haematopoietic, recall, understanding, consultation, content analysis
• Subjects: B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology; R Medicine > R Medicine (General)
• Colleges/Schools: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > Mental Health and Wellbeing
• Supervisor's Name: Wilson, Dr. Sarah
• Date of Award: 2014
• Depositing User: Miss Shehnaz Iqbal
• Unique ID: glathesis:2014-5988
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 11 Feb 2015 16:35
• Last Modified: 26 Feb 2015 14:35
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/5988