Participation in the medical decision making and social interactions of oncologic patients

The article presents chosen aspects of the research conducted in the Białystok Oncology Centre (BOC) over the years 2011 – 2012. The aim of the study was to obtain data concerning the patient’s participation in the medical decision making and impact of the disease and medical therapy on social interactions. The study group consisted of patients hospitalised in medical departments of the Białystok Oncology Centre. The choice of respondents was made according the following criteria: patients with a malignant neoplasm (both male and female), patients currently undergoing a varied medical therapy at the BOC, and patients at a professionally active age. Different categories of the patient’s participation in the medical decision making are specified and analysed in the paper. The article also presents the results of the patients’ self-assessment of their capabilities to cope with everyday routine activities, attitude to professional duties attributed to them and contacts with the closest person – significant other, as well as evaluation of the effect of external changes caused by the disease and its treatment on social interactions. The following demographic factors have been taken into consideration in the analysis of the results and their interpretation: age, sex and education.Udostępnienie publikacji Wydawnictwa Uniwersytetu Łódzkiego finansowane w ramach projektu „Doskonałość naukowa kluczem do doskonałości kształcenia”. Projekt realizowany jest ze środków Europejskiego Funduszu Społecznego w ramach Programu Operacyjnego Wiedza Edukacja Rozwój; nr umowy: POWER.03.05.00-00-Z092/17-00. Publikacja dofinansowana z budżetu Urzędu Miasta Łodzi w ramach Konkursu ofert na realizację zadania: „Współpraca z wyższymi uczelniami” w zakresie promocji Łodzi jako ośrodka naukowego i akademickieg