scholarly journals Symposium: Emotional support for cancer patients and their families

1980 ◽  
Vol 73 (3) ◽  
pp. 214-215
Author(s):  
Robert Tiffany
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Emotional Support

scholarly journals The Association of Sources of Support, Types of Support and Satisfaction with Support Received on Perceived Stress and Quality of Life of Cancer Patients

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 ◽  
pp. 153473542199490
Author(s):  
Iván Ruiz-Rodríguez ◽  
Isabel Hombrados-Mendieta ◽  
Anabel Melguizo-Garín ◽  
Mª José Martos-Méndez
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Emotional Support ◽  
Multidimensional Analysis ◽  
Informational Support ◽  
Cancer Data ◽  
The Family

Introduction: The aim of the present study is to carry out a multidimensional analysis of the relationship of social support with quality of life and the stress perceived by cancer patients. Methods: The participants were 200 patients with cancer. Data was gathered on sociodemographic characteristics, health, quality of life, social support and perceived stress. Results: Frequency of and satisfaction with different sources and types of support are related positively with improvement of quality of life and negatively with perceived stress. The emotional support from the partner and the emotional and informational support from the family are significant predictors of quality of life. Emotional support from the family reduces patients’ perceived stress. Satisfaction with emotional support from the partner and with the informational support from friends and family increases quality of life. Satisfaction with emotional support from the family and with informational support from friends decreases patients’ perceived stress. Instrumental support and support provided by health professionals are not good predictors of quality of life and perceived stress. Satisfaction with the support received is more significantly related with quality of life and stress than the frequency with which the sources provide support. Conclusions: These results have important practical implications to improve cancer patients’ quality of life and reduce their perceived stress through social support. Designing intervention strategies to improve satisfaction with the support provided to patients by their closest networks results in a global benefit for the patient’s quality of life.

scholarly journals The patient advisor, an organizational resource as a lever for an enhanced oncology patient experience (PAROLE-onco): a longitudinal multiple case study protocol

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
M. P. Pomey ◽  
M. de Guise ◽  
M. Desforges ◽  
K. Bouchard ◽  
C. Vialaron ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Clinical Oncology ◽  
Patient Experience ◽  
Emotional Support ◽  
Social Care ◽  
Legal Issues ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Health And Social Care ◽  
Ethical And Legal Issues ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Quebec is one of the Canadian provinces with the highest rates of cancer incidence and prevalence. A study by the Rossy Cancer Network (RCN) of McGill university assessed six aspects of the patient experience among cancer patients and found that emotional support is the aspect most lacking. To improve this support, trained patient advisors (PAs) can be included as full-fledged members of the healthcare team, given that PA can rely on their knowledge with experiencing the disease and from using health and social care services to accompany cancer patients, they could help to round out the health and social care services offer in oncology. However, the feasibility of integrating PAs in clinical oncology teams has not been studied. In this multisite study, we will explore how to integrate PAs in clinical oncology teams and, under what conditions this can be successfully done. We aim to better understand effects of this PA intervention on patients, on the PAs themselves, the health and social care team, the administrators, and on the organization of services and to identify associated ethical and legal issues. Methods/design We will conduct six mixed methods longitudinal case studies. Qualitative data will be used to study the integration of the PAs into clinical oncology teams and to identify the factors that are facilitators and inhibitors of the process, the associated ethical and legal issues, and the challenges that the PAs experience. Quantitative data will be used to assess effects on patients, PAs and team members, if any, of the PA intervention. The results will be used to support oncology programs in the integration of PAs into their healthcare teams and to design a future randomized pragmatic trial to evaluate the impact of PAs as full-fledged members of clinical oncology teams on cancer patients’ experience of emotional support throughout their care trajectory. Discussion This study will be the first to integrate PAs as full-fledged members of the clinical oncology team and to assess possible clinical and organizational level effects. Given the unique role of PAs, this study will complement the body of research on peer support and patient navigation. An additional innovative aspect of this study will be consideration of the ethical and legal issues at stake and how to address them in the health care organizations.

Barriers to end-of-life discussion with advanced cancer patient as perceived by oncologists, certified/specialized nurses in cancer nursing and medical social workers

2020 ◽  
Vol 50 (12) ◽  
pp. 1426-1433
Author(s):  
Yasutaka Kimura ◽  
Miki Hosoya ◽  
Kyoko Toju ◽  
Chikako Shimizu ◽  
Tatsuya Morita
Keyword(s):  
End Of Life ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Advanced Cancer ◽  
Emotional Support ◽  
Health Care Team ◽  
Medical Professionals ◽  
Advanced Cancer Patients ◽  
Common View ◽  
Cancer Nursing

Abstract Objective The objectives of this study were to identify barriers to end-of-life discussion with advanced cancer patients and their families as perceived by oncologists, certified/specialized nurses in cancer nursing (hereafter, collectively referred to as ‘nurses’) and medical social workers, as well as to clarify their opinions about effective strategies to facilitate end-of-life discussion. Methods A questionnaire survey was distributed to 4354 medical professionals working at 402 designated regional cancer hospitals in Japan. Responses were obtained from 494 oncologists (valid response rate 30.7%), 993 nurses (46.7%) and 387 medical social workers (48.1%). Results Among the barriers to end-of-life discussion with advanced cancer patients, factors related to patients and families, such as ‘Family members’ difficulty accepting loved one’s poor prognosis’, were recognized as the most important issues, which was the common view shared across the three types of medical professionals who participated in this study. Nurses and medical social workers were significantly more likely than oncologists to recognize as important issues ‘Health care team disagreement about goals of care’ and ‘Lack of training to have conversations for end-of-life discussion’. To facilitate end-of-life discussion, ‘providing mental and emotional support for the patients and their families after end-of-life discussion’ was needed most as perceived by the respondents regardless of their profession. Conclusions Barriers impeding end-of-life discussion were factors related to patients and their families, and oncologists’ close cooperation with nurses and medical social workers is important in providing emotional support for patients and families. To facilitate end-of-life discussion, it is important to share information on patients’ prognosis and goals for treatment among oncologists and other medical professionals, as well as strengthen communication skill of these medical professions.

scholarly journals Codifying Online Social Support for Breast Cancer Patients: Retrospective Qualitative Assessment (Preprint)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jude P Mikal ◽  
Stuart W Grande ◽  
Michael J Beckstrand
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Emotional Support ◽  
Breast Cancer Survivors ◽  
Qualitative Assessment ◽  
Breast Cancer Patients ◽  
Online Social Support ◽  
Support Exchange

BACKGROUND Social media has emerged as the epicenter for exchanging health-related information, resources, and emotional support. However, despite recognized benefits of social media for advancing health-promoting support exchange, researchers have struggled to differentiate between the different ways social support occurs and is expressed through social media. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to develop a fuller understanding of social support exchange by examining the ways in which breast cancer patients discuss their health needs and reach out for support on Facebook and to develop a coding schema that can be useful to other social media researchers. METHODS We conducted a retrospective qualitative assessment of text-based social support exchanges through Facebook among 30 breast cancer survivors. Facebook wall data were systematically scraped, organized, coded, and characterized by whether and which types of support were exchanged. Research questions focused on how often participants posted related to cancer, how often cancer patients reached out for support, and the relative frequency of informational, instrumental, or socioemotional support requests broadcast by patients on the site. RESULTS A novel ground-up coding schema applied to unwieldy Facebook data successfully identified social support exchange in two critical transitions in cancer treatment: diagnosis and transition off cancer therapy. Explanatory coding, design, and analysis processes led to a novel coding schema informed by 100,000 lines of data, an a priori literature review, and observed online social support exchanges. A final coding schema permits a compelling analysis of support exchange as a type of peer community, where members act proactively to buffer stress effects associated with negative health experiences. The coding schema framed operational definitions of what support meant and the forms each type of support could take in social media spaces. CONCLUSIONS Given the importance of social media in social interaction, support exchange, and health promotion, our findings provide insight and clarity for researchers into the different forms informational, resource, and emotional support may take in Web-based social environments. Findings support broader continuity for evaluating computer-mediated support exchange.

Breaking Bad News About Cancer: Patients’ Preferences for Communication

2001 ◽  
Vol 19 (7) ◽  
pp. 2049-2056 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricia A. Parker ◽  
Walter F. Baile ◽  
Carl de Moor ◽  
Renato Lenzi ◽  
Andrzej P. Kudelka ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Cancer Diagnosis ◽  
Emotional Support ◽  
Bad News ◽  
Breaking Bad News ◽  
Message Content ◽  
Breaking Bad ◽  
Physician Characteristics ◽  
Context Variables ◽  
Content Scale

PURPOSE: The goal of this study was to assess patients’ preferences regarding the way in which physicians deliver news about their cancer diagnosis and management. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A sample of 351 patients with a variety of cancers completed a measure assessing their preferences for how they would like to be told news about their cancer. Patients rated characteristics of the context and content of the conversation as well as physician characteristics. RESULTS: Factor analysis indicated that patients’ preferences for how they would like to be told news regarding their cancer can be grouped into the following three categories: (1) content (what and how much information is told); (2) facilitation (setting and context variables); and (3) support (emotional support during the interaction). Women (P = .02) and patients with higher education (P = .05) had significantly higher scores on the Content scale, women (P = .02) had higher scores on the Support scale, and younger patients (P = .001) and those with more education (P = .02) had higher scores on the Message Facilitation scale. Medical variables were not associated with patients’ ratings of the importance of the three subscales. CONCLUSION: Patients rated items addressing the message content as most important, though the supportive and facilitative dimensions were also rated highly. Understanding what is important to patients when told news about their cancer provides valuable information that may help refine how this challenging task is best performed.

scholarly journals Codifying Online Social Support for Breast Cancer Patients: Retrospective Qualitative Assessment

10.2196/12880 ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (10) ◽  
pp. e12880 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jude P Mikal ◽  
Stuart W Grande ◽  
Michael J Beckstrand
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Emotional Support ◽  
Breast Cancer Survivors ◽  
Qualitative Assessment ◽  
Breast Cancer Patients ◽  
Online Social Support ◽  
Support Exchange

Background Social media has emerged as the epicenter for exchanging health-related information, resources, and emotional support. However, despite recognized benefits of social media for advancing health-promoting support exchange, researchers have struggled to differentiate between the different ways social support occurs and is expressed through social media. Objective The objective of this study was to develop a fuller understanding of social support exchange by examining the ways in which breast cancer patients discuss their health needs and reach out for support on Facebook and to develop a coding schema that can be useful to other social media researchers. Methods We conducted a retrospective qualitative assessment of text-based social support exchanges through Facebook among 30 breast cancer survivors. Facebook wall data were systematically scraped, organized, coded, and characterized by whether and which types of support were exchanged. Research questions focused on how often participants posted related to cancer, how often cancer patients reached out for support, and the relative frequency of informational, instrumental, or socioemotional support requests broadcast by patients on the site. Results A novel ground-up coding schema applied to unwieldy Facebook data successfully identified social support exchange in two critical transitions in cancer treatment: diagnosis and transition off cancer therapy. Explanatory coding, design, and analysis processes led to a novel coding schema informed by 100,000 lines of data, an a priori literature review, and observed online social support exchanges. A final coding schema permits a compelling analysis of support exchange as a type of peer community, where members act proactively to buffer stress effects associated with negative health experiences. The coding schema framed operational definitions of what support meant and the forms each type of support could take in social media spaces. Conclusions Given the importance of social media in social interaction, support exchange, and health promotion, our findings provide insight and clarity for researchers into the different forms informational, resource, and emotional support may take in Web-based social environments. Findings support broader continuity for evaluating computer-mediated support exchange.

scholarly journals Availability and Utilization of Psychosocial Services for Breast Cancer Patients in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: A Mixed Method Study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abigiya Wondimagegnehu ◽  
Workeabeba Abebe ◽  
Selamawit Hirpa Abu ◽  
Eva J. Kantelhardt ◽  
Adamu Addissie ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Emotional Support ◽  
Mixed Method ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Addis Ababa ◽  
Health Facilities ◽  
Mixed Method Study ◽  
Breast Cancer Patients ◽  
Psychosocial Services

Abstract Purpose: Although psychosocial services have substantial impact in cancer care, the availability and utilization of these services have not been well-studied in Sub Saharan Africa. Therefore, we explored the types of psychosocial services available for breast cancer patients in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.Methods: A mixed method study was conducted using a cross-sectional survey involving 428 breast cancer patients, followed by a qualitative study. A total of nine in-depth interviews (IDIs) were conducted with four breast cancer patients and five key informants using two separate interview guides. In addition to descriptive statistics, logistic regression was done to identify factors associated with provision of psychosocial services. Thematic analysis was used for the qualitative data using NVivo 12 plus software. Results: Only 47 (11.1%) patients received psychosocial services, either in the form of counseling, emotional support or provision of information. Health professionals reportedly provided such services along with their routine activities, and patients predominantly received social/emotional support from family members, friends and colleagues. There were no well-structured counseling service, emotional support or group discussion sessions for breast cancer patients in these health facilities. The main reasons for not providing these services were high patient flow/workload, inadequate space, lack of training and not having qualified professionals to organize and deliver psychosocial services in those hospitals.Conclusions: only one in ten breast cancer patients received psychosocial services from health professionals, and the services were not delivered in a structured way. Therefore, psychosocial services should be integrated both in private and government health facilities of Ethiopia.

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