TY - JOUR
T1 - Experiences of healthcare professionals with support for mesothelioma patients and their relatives
T2 - Identified gaps and improvements for care
AU - Frissen, Anne-Roos
AU - Burgers, Sjaak
AU - van der Zwan, Jan Maarten
AU - Raijmakers, Natasja
AU - Arber, Anne
AU - Kunst, Peter
AU - Aerts, Joachim
AU - Duijts, Saskia F. A.
N1 - Funding Information: The authors would like to thank Prof. Dr. Sjaak Burgers and Prof. Dr. Joachim Aerts, as well as the patient organisations, the Asbestos Victims Association Netherlands (AVN) and the Dutch Federation of Cancer Patient Organizations (NFK), for their support in this study. Finally, we would like to thank all the participants that were interviewed in this study for their time, willingness and flexibility, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Publisher Copyright: © 2021 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
PY - 2021/11/1
Y1 - 2021/11/1
N2 - Objective: To assess perspectives and experiences of healthcare professionals and other relevant stakeholders regarding psychosocial support and palliative care in mesothelioma patients and their relatives, to identify gaps and to explore potential improvements in current healthcare. Methods: Individual, semi-structured interviews were conducted with healthcare professionals and other relevant stakeholders. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically using ATLAS.ti. Results: In total, 16 respondents participated in an interview (69% women; mean age: 51.8 years (SD 12.41; range 28–75)). Four key themes were identified: (1) availability of tailored psychosocial and palliative care, (2) timely integration and organisation of psychosocial support and palliative care, (3) differences in provided support and care between healthcare professionals and hospitals and (4) training of healthcare professionals and stakeholders on psychosocial problems. Conclusion: Our study showed that psychosocial support and palliative care for patients with mesothelioma could be improved. A more fluent transition between primary and secondary cancer care and early integration of psychosocial support and palliative care is advised. Lastly, more attention is needed for psychosocial and palliative care in the basic medical training of healthcare professionals.
AB - Objective: To assess perspectives and experiences of healthcare professionals and other relevant stakeholders regarding psychosocial support and palliative care in mesothelioma patients and their relatives, to identify gaps and to explore potential improvements in current healthcare. Methods: Individual, semi-structured interviews were conducted with healthcare professionals and other relevant stakeholders. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically using ATLAS.ti. Results: In total, 16 respondents participated in an interview (69% women; mean age: 51.8 years (SD 12.41; range 28–75)). Four key themes were identified: (1) availability of tailored psychosocial and palliative care, (2) timely integration and organisation of psychosocial support and palliative care, (3) differences in provided support and care between healthcare professionals and hospitals and (4) training of healthcare professionals and stakeholders on psychosocial problems. Conclusion: Our study showed that psychosocial support and palliative care for patients with mesothelioma could be improved. A more fluent transition between primary and secondary cancer care and early integration of psychosocial support and palliative care is advised. Lastly, more attention is needed for psychosocial and palliative care in the basic medical training of healthcare professionals.
KW - end-of-life
KW - healthcare
KW - improvements
KW - mesothelioma
KW - palliative care
KW - psychosocial support
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85114503807&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1111/ecc.13509
DO - https://doi.org/10.1111/ecc.13509
M3 - Article
C2 - 34498770
SN - 0961-5423
VL - 30
JO - European Journal of Cancer Care
JF - European Journal of Cancer Care
IS - 6
M1 - e13509
ER -