Communicating about health : a descriptive analysis of customising interpersonal and group communication in 'Aurora support service' chemotherapy education classes

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of health communication, in terms of content and its delivery, within the pre-chemotherapy educational intervention offered by Aurora Support Service to newly diagnosed cancer patients. Qualitative research was conducted through observations of chemotherapy classes and interviews with patients who attended. The findings are consistent with previous studies conducted overseas, indicating the importance of providing patients with health information. This alleviates their anxieties and prepares them for what to expect, satisfying patients’ information needs and emotional support needs. However, it was also found that the delivery mode of such information has a significant impact on the aforementioned needs and on improving patients’ outlook. This highlights the importance of acknowledging the way sources communicate with their audience as a prominent variable, when studying health communication programmes.