Work

Preserving the integrity of personhood in people with advanced cancer: An in-depth qualitative study among patients, relatives, and care professionals

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Every advanced cancer diagnosis brings enormous challenges to patients and their relatives on numerous levels: be it physical, practical, social challenges, or on a more personal level. While specific aspects have been researched before, an overarching approach is lacking. AIM: To understand the lived experiences of people with advanced cancer, to identify gaps along the cancer care continuum, to identify potential opportunities for meaningful interventions and to develop a theoretical framework for practitioners and researchers. DESIGN: A qualitative study using in-depth interviews with patients, relatives, and care professionals. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using a conventional content analysis. SETTING/PARTICIPANTS: Fifty-four interviews with 17 patients from a university oncology department and palliative care service, 15 relatives and 22 care professionals from physicians to funeral directors. All interviewees were recruited by a German university hospital. RESULTS: We developed a novel model describing the diagnosis with advanced cancer as a highly disruptive experience that threatens to challenge the integrity of personhood in cancer patients through four areas: communication, knowledge, relationships, and confidence. We were able to identify factors leading to disintegration in these areas and factors supporting a restoration of integrity of personhood. CONCLUSIONS: The developed model provides a more thorough understanding of patients lived experiences. It can help to develop new interventions along the cancer care continuum to support patients in the complex challenges they face. These interventions should focus on supporting the integrity of personhood.

Source: Palliative Medicine

DOI: 10.1177/02692163241269727

Authors: Alina Senßfelder, Matthias Havemann, Anna J Pedrosa Carrasco, Pia von Blanckenburg, Carola Seifart

Institutions: Philipps University of Marburg, Universitätsklinikum Gießen und Marburg

Language: English

Topic: Palliative Care and End-of-Life Issues

Subfield: Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,200