scholarly journals Cancer Healthcare Workers’ Perceptions toward Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy: A Preliminary Investigation

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (15) ◽  
pp. 8160
Author(s):  
Lisa M. Reynolds ◽  
Amelia Akroyd ◽  
Frederick Sundram ◽  
Aideen Stack ◽  
Suresh Muthukumaraswamy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Advanced Cancer ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Preliminary Investigation ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Advanced Cancer Patients ◽  
Transformative Approach ◽  
Potential Use

Recent clinical trials suggest that psychedelic-assisted therapy is a promising intervention for reducing anxiety and depression and ameliorating existential despair in advanced cancer patients. However, little is known about perceptions toward this treatment from the key gatekeepers to this population. The current study aimed to understand the perceptions of cancer healthcare professionals about the potential use of psychedelic-assisted therapy in advanced cancer patients. Twelve cancer healthcare professionals including doctors, nurses, psychologists and social workers took part in a semi-structured interview which explored their awareness and perceptions toward psychedelic-assisted therapy with advanced cancer patients. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. Four inter-connected themes were identified. Two themes relate to the role and responsibility of being a cancer healthcare worker: (1) ‘beneficence: a need to alleviate the suffering of cancer patients’ and (2) ‘non-maleficence: keeping vulnerable cancer patients safe’, and two themes relate specifically to the potential for psychedelic-assisted therapy as (3) ‘a transformative approach with the potential for real benefit’ but that (4) ‘new frontiers can be risky endeavours’. The findings from this study suggest intrigue and openness in cancer healthcare professionals to the idea of utilising psychedelic-assisted therapy with advanced cancer patients. Openness to the concept appeared to be driven by a lack of current effective treatment options and a desire to alleviate suffering. However, acceptance was tempered by concerns around safety and the importance of conducting rigorous, well-designed trials. The results from this study provide a useful basis for engaging with healthcare professionals about future research, trial design and potential clinical applications.

Do spiritual patients want spiritual interventions?: A qualitative exploration of underserved cancer patients' perspectives on religion and spirituality

2013 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emma M. Stein ◽  
Evelyn Kolidas ◽  
Alyson Moadel
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Advanced Cancer ◽  
Ethnically Diverse ◽  
Psychosocial Interventions ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Diverse Population ◽  
Spiritual Support ◽  
Religion And Spirituality ◽  
Advanced Cancer Patients ◽  
Coping With Cancer

AbstractObjective:This study examines religion and spirituality among advanced cancer patients from an underserved, ethnically-diverse population by exploring patient conceptualizations of religion and spirituality, the role of religion and spirituality in coping with cancer, and patient interest in spiritual support.Method:Qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with patients who had participated in a study of a “mind-body” support group for patients with all cancer types. Analysis based on grounded theory was utilized to identify themes and theoretical constructs.Results:With regard to patient conceptualizations of religion and spirituality, three categories emerged: (1) Spirituality is intertwined with organized religion; (2) Religion is one manifestation of the broader construct of spirituality; (3) Religion and spirituality are completely independent, with spirituality being desirable and religion not. Religion and spirituality played a central role in patients' coping with cancer, providing comfort, hope, and meaning. Patients diverged when it came to spiritual support, with some enthusiastic about interventions incorporating their spiritual values and others stating that they already get this support through religious communities.Significance of results:Spirituality plays a central role in the cancer experience of this underserved ethnically-diverse population. While spirituality seems to be a universal concern in advanced cancer patients, the meaning of spirituality differs across individuals, with some equating it with organized religion and others taking a more individualized approach. It is important that psychosocial interventions are developed to address this concern. Future research is needed to further explore the different ways that patients conceptualize spirituality and to develop spiritually-based treatments that are not “one size fits all.”

Physician Message and Patient’s Perception of Compassion (DRAFT)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lynn A. Flint ◽  
Eric Widera
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Treatment ◽  
Crossover Study ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Advanced Cancer ◽  
Clinical Case ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
The Other ◽  
Advanced Cancer Patients ◽  
Patient’S Perception ◽  
Randomized Crossover Study

This randomized, crossover study examined advanced cancer patients’ perceptions of physician compassion when delivering a less optimistic versus more optimistic message. Patients with advanced cancer viewed two videos, each depicting actors portraying a physician and a patient discussing cancer treatment options. In one video, the physician delivers a less optimistic message and in the other, the physician delivers a more optimistic message. Participants rated their perceptions of physician compassion after viewing each video. They perceived the physician with the more optimistic message as more compassionate than the physician with the less optimistic message. The chapter describes the basics of the study, briefly reviews other relevant studies and information, gives a summary and discusses implications, and concludes with a relevant clinical case.

Creating communicative opportunity: The supportive benefits of legacy building for families of advanced cancer patients.

2014 ◽  
Vol 32 (31_suppl) ◽  
pp. 230-230
Author(s):  
Jennifer Kim Bernat ◽  
Paul R. Helft ◽  
Laura R. Wilhelm ◽  
Karen Schmidt ◽  
Shelley A. Johns
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Advanced Cancer ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Terminally Ill ◽  
Future Generations ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Advanced Cancer Patients ◽  
Great Loss ◽  
The Family ◽  
New Knowledge

230 Background: Being diagnosed with advanced cancer is a painful reality that impacts entire families. Families face the challenge of great loss and can regret conversations left unspoken. Dignity therapy (DT) is an empirically supported intervention that gives families communicative opportunity. During DT, terminally ill patients engage in legacy building and create a written project containing their meaningful memories and values. This project is given to the family, succeeding the person in death and providing continuity to those who are left behind. We developed a narrative intervention based on DT that used a novel web portal for project dissemination. This study qualitatively explores the family’s reactions to legacy building to learn about its potential for future bereavement support. Methods: Semi-structured phone interviews (20-30 minutes) with family members (n=7) of terminally ill cancer patients were completed approximately one week after receiving the legacy project. Recipients were spouses (n=4), siblings (n=2), or an adult child (n=1). Interviews were coded using conventional content analysis and an open-coding strategy. Themes were recorded as they emerged. Results: Three communication themes emerged from the data. Legacy building: (1) facilitates conversation; (2) creates new knowledge and understanding; and (3) leaves lasting communication for future generations. The family members felt overall communication improved before the patient died, and they were able to discuss the terminal nature of their loved one’s illness. New knowledge was communicated in the project, which sometimes led to further understanding of personal life events. Also, the project was viewed as a family heirloom to be bequeathed to future generations. All family members stated they would recommend legacy building to others. Conclusions: This study adds the unique impact of communication to the literature on the supportive benefit of DT for families of advanced cancer patients. Future research should investigate and quantitatively assess bereavement outcomes for families over time, as well as the direct impact these outcomes have on family members’ quality of life.

scholarly journals What advanced cancer patients with limited treatment options know about clinical research: a qualitative study

2017 ◽  
Vol 25 (10) ◽  
pp. 3235-3242 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah B. Garrett ◽  
Christopher J. Koenig ◽  
Laura Trupin ◽  
Fay J. Hlubocky ◽  
Christopher K. Daugherty ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Clinical Research ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Advanced Cancer ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Advanced Cancer Patients

scholarly journals Usability testing of an electronic pain monitoring system for palliative cancer patients: A think-aloud study

2017 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 1133-1147 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sally Taylor ◽  
Matthew J Allsop ◽  
Michael I Bennett ◽  
Bridgette M Bewick
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Monitoring System ◽  
Advanced Cancer ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Think Aloud ◽  
Framework Analysis ◽  
Advanced Cancer Patients ◽  
Clinical Integration ◽  
Affect Patient Care

Pain experienced by advanced cancer patients is often poorly controlled due to inadequate assessment. We aimed to test an electronic pain monitoring system (PainCheck) with advanced cancer patients and health professionals. In all, 29 participants (13 patients and 16 health professionals (n = 16)) used PainCheck while thinking their thoughts aloud. After the think aloud, both groups were asked about their experiences. Think-aloud and semi-structured interview data were analysed using framework analysis. Both groups were generally positive about PainCheck and found it easy to understand but they had concerns about clinical integration. Their concerns related to impact on workload, how lack of response may affect patient care and ability to engage with and use the technology. PainCheck has the capacity to be useful in clinical practice. For integration to be successful, patients and health professionals need guidance on how to use PainCheck and the expectations of users need to be clarified.

The clinical evaluation of the wish to hasten death is not upsetting for advanced cancer patients: A cross-sectional study

2019 ◽  
Vol 33 (6) ◽  
pp. 570-577 ◽  
Author(s):  
Josep Porta-Sales ◽  
Iris Crespo ◽  
Cristina Monforte-Royo ◽  
Mar Marín ◽  
Sonia Abenia-Chavarria ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Advanced Cancer ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Routine Clinical Practice ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Advanced Cancer Patients ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Important Concern ◽  
Wish To Hasten Death

Background: An important concern of healthcare professionals when exploring the wish to hasten death with patients is the risk of causing them some type of distress. Aim: To assess the opinion of hospitalized patients with advanced cancer about the proactive assessment of the wish to hasten death. Design: Descriptive, cross-sectional study. Setting/participants: We assessed 193 advanced cancer patients admitted to an oncology ward for the wish to hasten death using a semi-structured clinical interview. After the assessment the participants were surveyed to determine whether they found the interview upsetting and, if so to what extent, and also their opinion regarding the assessment’s importance. Results: The wish to hasten death was reported by 46 (23.8%) patients. The majority of patients (94.8%) did not find talking about the wish to hasten death to be upsetting, regardless of whether they presented it or not. The majority of patients (79.3%) considered that it was either quite or extremely important for the clinician to proactively assess the wish to hasten death and discuss this topic, regardless of whether they experienced it. Conclusions: In this study, most of the advanced cancer patients did not find the assessment of wish to hasten death to be upsetting, and a substantial proportion of patients in this study believe that it is important to routinely evaluate it in this setting. These findings suggest that healthcare professionals can explore the wish to hasten death proactively in routine clinical practice without fear of upsetting patients.

What influences patients’ decisions regarding palliative care in advance care planning discussions? Perspectives from a qualitative study conducted with advanced cancer patients, families and healthcare professionals

2019 ◽  
Vol 33 (10) ◽  
pp. 1299-1309 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cheng-Pei Lin ◽  
Catherine J Evans ◽  
Jonathan Koffman ◽  
Shuh-Jen Sheu ◽  
Su-Hsuan Hsu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Palliative Care ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Advanced Cancer ◽  
Advance Care Planning ◽  
Filial Piety ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Care Planning ◽  
Advanced Cancer Patients ◽  
Advance Care

Background: The concept of advance care planning is largely derived from Western countries. However, the decision-making process and drivers for choosing palliative care in non-Western cultures have received little attention. Aim: To explore the decision-making processes and drivers of receiving palliative care in advance care planning discussions from perspectives of advanced cancer patients, families and healthcare professionals in northern Taiwan. Method: Semi-structured qualitative interviews with advanced cancer patients, their families and healthcare professionals independently from inpatient oncology and hospice units. Thematic analysis with analytical rigour enhanced by dual coding and exploration of divergent views. Results: Forty-five participants were interviewed ( n = 15 from each group). Three main decision-making trajectories were identified: (1) ‘choose palliative care’ was associated with patients’ desire to reduce physical suffering from treatments, avoid being a burden to families and society, reduce futile treatments and donate organs to help others; (2) ‘decline palliative care’ was associated with patients weighing up perceived benefits to others as more important than benefits for themselves; and (3) ‘no opportunity to choose palliative care’ was associated with lack of opportunities to discuss potential benefits of palliative care, lack of staff skill in end-of-life communication, and cultural factors, notably filial piety. Conclusion: Choice for palliative care among advanced cancer patients in Taiwan is influenced by three decision-making trajectories. Opinions from families are highly influential, and patients often lack information on palliative care options. Strategies to facilitate decision-making require staff confidence in end-of-life discussions, working with the patients and their family while respecting the influence of filial piety.

Understanding of early-phase clinical trials among a cohort of advanced cancer patients with limited standard treatment options.

2014 ◽  
Vol 32 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. 9651-9651 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Paul Dohan ◽  
Laura Trupin ◽  
Christopher Koenig ◽  
Fay J. Hlubocky ◽  
Christopher Daugherty
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Advanced Cancer ◽  
Early Phase ◽  
Standard Treatment ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Advanced Cancer Patients ◽  
Early Phase Clinical Trials
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