Keck M, Hübner J, Büntzel J. "I do not hear you!": hearing-impaired cancer patients report their communication experiences.
J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2023;
149:6557-6567. [PMID:
36780054 PMCID:
PMC9924207 DOI:
10.1007/s00432-023-04634-0]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2022] [Accepted: 02/04/2023] [Indexed: 02/14/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE
Hearing impairment has a high impact on communication between cancer patients and their oncologists. What is the patient's perspective on this problem and how can physicians draw lessons from it?
METHODS
Together with otorhinolaryngologists and hearing-impaired patients, we developed a questionnaire including the sections: WHO (Five) Well-Being Index (5 items), Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit (APHAB) as established self-estimation of hearing function (24 items), use of hearing aid (4 items) as well as patients' experiences (15 items), difficulties (9 items) and wishes (7 items) regarding the communication with physicians. The experiences, difficulties, wishes, and life satisfaction of cancer patients were analyzed between groups based on participants' APHAB scores, well-being and use of hearing aids. A total of 104 cancer survivors (median age 76.5 years, range 32-90 years) were included.
RESULTS
Between the groups of subjectively hearing-impaired and normal hearing participants, we registered a significant difference in difficulties in conversation, wishes for physician-patient communication and psychological well-being. Depending on participants' well-being, wishes and difficulties differed. Differences were also found between participants with and without hearing aids in terms of difficulties in conversation, but not in terms of their wishes and well-being. A large proportion of participants classified as subjectively hearing-impaired according to APHAB already had a hearing aid.
CONCLUSIONS
Cancer patients with hearing loss are very restricted in their understanding of given information and hearing aid use cannot completely compensate for this. Consequently, communication guidelines should be considered and specific educational tools need to be developed for these groups.
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