The protective role of HCWs communication for the distress of newly diagnosed people with leukemia and lymphoma

Abstract

Objectives: Patients with hematologic malignancies face a unique illness trajectory that contributes to high distress. Physician-patient communication can enhance well-being, therapeutic alliance, and adherence; however, its impact in hematology remains underexplored. We investigate the satisfaction of people with leukemia and lymphoma regarding the communication of healthcare providers and their perceived support, and their effects on distress.

Methods: In this cross-sectional, observational study, 54 individuals with leukemia and lymphoma completed a questionnaire assessing their perceived support, communication, and distress. We conducted correlation and regression analyses to assess how healthcare worker-patient communication and perceived support relate to distress.

Results: We found moderate to high distress in more than 60 % of patients. Main results revealed that distress was related to the perception of having received adequate information from healthcare providers, β = -0.20, p = .046, along with emotional, β = 0.66, p < .001, and practical problems, β = 0.28, p = .006.

Conclusions: Findings highlight healthcare providers' role in reducing distress by addressing patients' informational needs, underscoring the necessity of targeted communication training.

Innovation: This study pioneers evidence in hematology, demonstrating how patient-centered communication and tailored strategies effectively support patients' well-being in unpredictable trajectories.

Keywords: Communication skills; Distress; Healthcare providers support; Hematologic malignancies; Leukemia; Lymphoma.

Fig. 1

Distribution of perceived social support from different sources (i.e., partner, healthcare providers, children, parents, friends, siblings, relatives, colleagues, and employer) among patients with hematologic malignancies.