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Person-Centred Culture in a Swiss Cancer Outpatient Clinic: A Participatory Inquiry [PCC126]

Wednesday May 6, 2026 09:00 - 11:15 Poster Arena

Track: Patient & Public Involvement, Poster session

Background: Persons undergoing cancer treatment spend a lot of their time in cancer outpatient clinics. It is important that they feel safe and comfortable during their visits. A person-centred culture proofs to be beneficial for service users' and healthcare professionals’ well-being. Aims: The aims of this doctoral research were to assess the current workplace culture in relation to person-centred practice at the Cancer Outpatient Clinic, develop a shared understanding of person-centred culture and identify areas of practice to further develop to enhance the person-centred culture. Methods: The research was a multi-method participatory inquiry following principles of person-centred research. It took place in the Cancer Outpatient Clinic of the City Hospital Zürich, Switzerland. Ethical approval was obtained by the respective ethic committees.  Healthcare professionals and service users from the Cancer Outpatient Clinic of the City Hospital Zürich, site Triemli participated as co-researchers in data collection and analysis. The current workplace culture and what matters most to service users when they stay in the outpatient clinic have been assessed using workplace observation and conversational interviews. In creative workshops and critical dialogues, co-researchers were invited to explore what person-centredness means to them and to identify areas of action to enhance and promote person-centred practice. To ensure rigour, reflexive methods were used. Findings: The assessment of the current workplace culture revealed that a person-centred culture is present. To further develop it, it is crucial to sustain the attributes of the co-researchers’ shared understanding of a person-centred culture which are offering a comprehensive, individual and empathic care, appreciation, mutual respect and competence. Conclusion: Exploring person-centredness together with the ones affected by it, was a valuable experience for all involved. The challenge now would be to preserve and promote what we have created.
Language

English

Conference

GCPCC

GCPCC Code

PCC126