Clinician–Patient Relationships in Virtual Care: A Dimensional Analysis of the Symbolic World of Cancer Care

Abstract

Rapid uptake of telehealth technologies has shifted clinician–patient relationships, a well-studied topic of sociological inquiry. The purpose of this dimensional analysis study was to understand the symbolic interaction of clinicians and patients within virtual supportive cancer care. Seventeen clinicians, eighteen patients, and three care partners receiving or providing care at a multi-site cancer center in the United States participated in interviews. Our analysis of supportive cancer care experiences reveals a key tension: clinicians need to rely on patients in order to share clinical tasks in a virtual care setting but can be reluctant to do so. We posit that dimming the light on cancer is a process that enables clinicians to overcome their reluctance to engage in clinician–patient task sharing by strengthening the relationship. Taken together, these findings reconceptualize the symbolic interaction of the clinician–patient relationship and highlight opportunities to actualize models of relationship-centered virtual care. We discuss implications for clinical practice, ethical relational care, and the literature on clinician–patient relationships and trust.