Table 5

Needs and preferences expressed in focus groups


Patients (N = 7)
 Parents (N = 11)
 Survivors (N = 18)
Interpersonal relationships
 Honesty
 x
 x
 x

Reassurance, support and empathy
 x
 x
 x

Being taken seriously
x
 x

Sufficient time for communication
 x
 x
 x

Time to come to terms with upsetting information
 x
 x
 x

Trust in health care professionals' expertise
x
 x

Not being constantly addressed as patient
 x
 x
 x

Acquaintance with child patient
 x
 x
 x
Information exchange
 Being fully informed
 x
 x
 x

Clarity of information
 x
 x
 x

Opportunity to ask questions during the consultation
 x
 x
 x

Avoidance of technical jargon
 x
 x
 x

Additional written information
x
 x

Unambiguous information
x

Differentiation in amount and kind of information
x
 x

General information at diagnosis, detailed information later
 x
 x
 x

Repetition of important information
x
 x

Written summary of consultations
x

Notification of the timing of consultations
 x
 x
 x

Presence of patient during consultations
 x
 x
 x

Parent-patient role delineation in information exchange
 x
 x
 x

Accessibility of health care providers
 x
 x
 x
Participation in decision making
 Level of participation in major decisions
 x
 x
 x

Level of participation in minor decisions
 x
 x
 x

Note. x = need or preference is expressed in focus group

Zwaanswijk et al. BMC Pediatrics 2007 7:35   doi:10.1186/1471-2431-7-35