Attachment Orientation and Relationships With Physicians and Nurses Among Israeli Patients With Advanced Cancer.

Objectives: To examine the association between attachment orientation and relationships with physicians and nurses among Israeli patients with advanced cancer.

Sample & Setting: 52 patients with advanced cancer during active oncologic treatment.

Methods & Variables: Eligible patients who agreed to participate in the study completed the Experience in Close Relationships Scale, Working Alliance Inventory-Short Revised, and a list of topics, which were defined by the research team as central and common to patients' coping.

Results: A correlation was found between avoidant attachment orientation and working alliance with nurses. In addition, patients' attachment orientation was found to be correlated with the type of topics they chose to share with the staff.

Implications For Nursing: Knowledge regarding the theoretical concepts of attachment orientation may assist nurses in providing tailored and beneficial communication patterns with patients.