Table 4 Opinions expressed in focus groups and interviews
| Â | Patients focus groups | Patients interviews | Professionals focus groups |
|---|---|---|---|
Differences between older and younger patients | Â | Â | Â |
Individual variance, apart from age differences | - | x | x |
Older patients have more difficulty processing information | x | - | x |
Older patients have more life experience and different expectations about the future | x | - | x |
The difference in life expectations has its impact on the decision to undergo a treatment or not | - | - | x |
Older patients are more vulnerable (co morbidity) and have more resistance to ask for assistance: they need guidance in asking for and receiving help | x | - | x |
Needs of older cancer patients | Â | Â | Â |
Concrete information about their disease and treatment | x | x | x |
Exploring the patient's personal situation | x | x | x |
Exploring information needs of patient and relative | x | x | - |
Tailor information to the patient's specific needs and situation | x | x | x |
Preferences of timing of providing the information differs among patients | x | - | - |
Empathy, support and reassurance, for both patient and relative | x | x | - |
Exploring patient's expectations or ideas about chemotherapy treatment | - | - | x |
Exploring patient's goals of undergoing treatment | x | x | x |
Engage both patient and relative actively in patient education | x | - | - |
Encourage patient and relative to ask questions | x | - | x |
Communication training for nurses to tailor to patients' needs | x | x | x |
Follow-up training, in which learning in practice is the key ingredient. | - | - | x |
Enhancing recall of information | Â | Â | Â |
Bring a (younger) person | x | x | x |
Check: does patient understand the information? | x | x | x |
Set priorities and offer information in a structured manner | x | - | x |
Spread information over time (piece by piece) | x | - | x |
Speak in clear language/avoid jargon | x | - | - |
Summarize most important information | x | - | x |
Combine different methods of offering information | - | x | x |
Use question prompt list | x | - | x |