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Cited by 48Palliative and Oncologic CarePalliative Care and End-of-Life IssuesPatient-Provider Communication in Healthcare

Nurses’ Perceptions of Diagnosis and Prognosis-Related Communication: An Integrative Review

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Newman, Amy R.·2016·Cancer Nursing
DOI 10.1097/ncc.0000000000000365
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Abstract

Background: Disclosure of diagnostic and prognostic information has become the standard in the United States and increasingly around the world. Disclosure is generally identified as the responsibility of the physician. However, nurses are active participants in the process both intentionally and inadvertently. If not included in initial discussions regarding diagnosis and prognosis, the nurse may find it challenging to openly support the patient and family. Objective: The aim of this study is to synthesize published literature regarding nurses’ perceptions and experiences with diagnosis and prognosis-related communication. Methods: The Whittemore and Knafl method guided the integrative review process. Electronic databases including Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Health Sciences in ProQuest, PubMed, and Web of Science were used to review the literature from 2000 to 2015. Constant comparison methods were used to analyze the data and develop themes. Results: Thirty articles met all of the inclusion criteria and were included in this review. Several themes emerged from the data, including the nurse’s role in the process of diagnosis and prognosis-related communication, barriers and difficulties related to communication, and positive and negative outcomes. Conclusions: Nurses play an integral role in the process of diagnostic and prognostic disclosure. Further exploration of both physician and patient perceptions of the nurse’s role are needed. Interprofessional training regarding diagnosis and prognosis-related communication is essential to promote collaboration and better empower nurses in this process. Implications for Practice: Nurses should aim to purposefully partner with physician colleagues to plan and participate in diagnostic and prognostic discussions. Nurses should identify opportunities to improve their knowledge, understanding, and comfort with challenging conversations.

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  • Despite the heavy reliance on teamwork in healthcare, ambiguous roles and significant power imbalances among team members can lead to differing levels of involvement and create feelings of exclusion, especially for those in subordinate positions.

    “Despite the heavy reliance on teamwork in healthcare, ambiguous roles and significant power imbalances among team members can lead to differing levels of involvement and create feelings of exclusion, especially for those in subordinate positions [251].”

    From Toward Safer Diagnoses: A SEIPS-Based Narrative Review of Diagnostic Errors (2026) · cites this paper as [251]

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Authors
Newman, A. R.
Affiliations
Marquette University (US)
Corresponding author
Newman, Amy R.
ORCID
Newman, Amy R.
Venue
Cancer Nursing
Publisher
Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Published
2016-09
Volume
39
Issue
5
Pages
E48-E60
ISSN
  • 0162-220X (ISSN-L)
  • 1538-9804
DOI
10.1097/ncc.0000000000000365
OpenAlex
W2313484702
Cited by
48
References
41
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 2
FWCI
0.84
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Cancer Nursing (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • e-Publications@Marquette (Marquette University) (submittedVersion)
Funders
Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation for Childhood Cancer
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Palliative and Oncologic Care
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Palliative Care and End-of-Life Issues
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Patient-Provider Communication in Healthcare
Keywords
prognosis communication, nurses' perceptions, communication barriers, nurse-physician collaboration, interprofessional education, patient and family support, difficult conversations
MeSH terms
Attitude of Health Personnel, Communication, Humans, Nurses, Perception, Professional-Patient Relations, Truth Disclosure, United States

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