The psychological aspects of bone marrow transplant

Results from the survey indicate that there is a tendency to protect the patient from negative affective behaviors and the staff endorses providing accurate information, but they behave in an increasingly optimistic manner as the patient's condition worsens, thus representing communication that is double binding to the patient.

Abstract

The staff of a Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) Unit was surveyed concerning attitudes about their patients and their procedure. Previous research indicates that in such medical settings paradoxical interactions (double binds) may occur among the staff, patient, and family. While the staff are overwhelmingly positive about BMT, less than 30% agree they would choose a BMT for themselves if in the same plight as their patients. The staff indicated that they convey hope to their seriously ill patients, and they agree that they provide accurate and honest information to the patient. In contrast, results from the survey indicate that there is a tendency to protect the patient from negative affective behaviors. The staff endorses providing accurate information, but they behave in an increasingly optimistic manner as the patient's condition worsens, thus representing communication that is double binding to the patient. Additionally, nearly half of the staff feels that their patients know when they are upset, and therefore it is likely that the patients are aware of the incongruence between the information they receive and the affective behavior of the staff.