Time, space and technology in radiotherapy departments: how do these factors impact on patients' experiences of radiotherapy?
Radiation therapists (RTs) plan and deliver radiotherapy treatment for patients diagnosed with cancer. They need to communicate regularly with their patients and may have a role to play in reducing patient anxiety and distress. The objectives were to explore how the environment of radiotherapy depar...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Journal Article |
| Published: |
Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
2017
|
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/22029 |
| _version_ | 1848750756024287232 |
|---|---|
| author | Merchant, Susan O'Connor, Moira Halkett, Georgia |
| author_facet | Merchant, Susan O'Connor, Moira Halkett, Georgia |
| author_sort | Merchant, Susan |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Radiation therapists (RTs) plan and deliver radiotherapy treatment for patients diagnosed with cancer. They need to communicate regularly with their patients and may have a role to play in reducing patient anxiety and distress. The objectives were to explore how the environment of radiotherapy departments supports or inhibits communication generally and information giving and supportive care provision in particular. An ethnographic approach was used to gather rich descriptive data through observations and interviews conducted in two Australian radiotherapy centres. Time, space and a technology driven culture was found to negatively affect the quality of interaction that occurred between RTs and their patients. This research has shown design/modification of spaces is needed in the radiotherapy environment to reflect a patient care centred culture and to enhance opportunities for RTs to provide supportive care for their patients. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T07:41:53Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-22029 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T07:41:53Z |
| publishDate | 2017 |
| publisher | Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd. |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-220292017-09-13T15:38:02Z Time, space and technology in radiotherapy departments: how do these factors impact on patients' experiences of radiotherapy? Merchant, Susan O'Connor, Moira Halkett, Georgia radiation therapy communication radiotherapy radiation therapist cancer ethnography Radiation therapists (RTs) plan and deliver radiotherapy treatment for patients diagnosed with cancer. They need to communicate regularly with their patients and may have a role to play in reducing patient anxiety and distress. The objectives were to explore how the environment of radiotherapy departments supports or inhibits communication generally and information giving and supportive care provision in particular. An ethnographic approach was used to gather rich descriptive data through observations and interviews conducted in two Australian radiotherapy centres. Time, space and a technology driven culture was found to negatively affect the quality of interaction that occurred between RTs and their patients. This research has shown design/modification of spaces is needed in the radiotherapy environment to reflect a patient care centred culture and to enhance opportunities for RTs to provide supportive care for their patients. 2017 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/22029 10.1111/ecc.12354 Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd. restricted |
| spellingShingle | radiation therapy communication radiotherapy radiation therapist cancer ethnography Merchant, Susan O'Connor, Moira Halkett, Georgia Time, space and technology in radiotherapy departments: how do these factors impact on patients' experiences of radiotherapy? |
| title | Time, space and technology in radiotherapy departments: how do these factors impact on patients' experiences of radiotherapy? |
| title_full | Time, space and technology in radiotherapy departments: how do these factors impact on patients' experiences of radiotherapy? |
| title_fullStr | Time, space and technology in radiotherapy departments: how do these factors impact on patients' experiences of radiotherapy? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Time, space and technology in radiotherapy departments: how do these factors impact on patients' experiences of radiotherapy? |
| title_short | Time, space and technology in radiotherapy departments: how do these factors impact on patients' experiences of radiotherapy? |
| title_sort | time, space and technology in radiotherapy departments: how do these factors impact on patients' experiences of radiotherapy? |
| topic | radiation therapy communication radiotherapy radiation therapist cancer ethnography |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/22029 |