Oncology clients' affective states and their nurses' expectations of clients' affective states.

The purpose of this study was to 1) examine the differences between oncology clients' self-reported and nurses' perceptual reports of the clients' affective states; and 2) study this difference as it relates to client denial, demographic factors of both the nurse and the client, and perceptual factors of the nurse. Using convenience sampling, 30 dyads (nurse/client dyad) were selected from a single inpatient oncology unit. The Multiple Adjective Affect Check List (MAACL) was administered to both members of the dyad to assess transient levels of anxiety, hostility, and depression. The Digit Span Backwards Test (DSBT) was administered to the client to determine the level of denial employed. Demographic and perception information was also collected.