Evan T Hall1,2, Deepa Sridhar3, Surbhi Singhal4, Touran Fardeen5, Sheila Lahijani6, Ranak Trivedi6,7, Caroline Gray8, Lidia Schapira9. 1. Division of Medical Oncology, University of Washington, 825 Eastlake Ave E, Mail Stop CE2-102, Seattle, WA, 98115, USA. evanh@uw.edu. 2. Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA. evanh@uw.edu. 3. College of Osteopathic Medicine, New York Institute of Technology, Old Westbury, NY, USA. 4. Division of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA. 5. Stanford Healthcare, Stanford, CA, USA. 6. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA. 7. Center for Innovation to Implementation, VA Palo Alto Healthcare System, Palo Alto, CA, USA. 8. VA Palo Alto Healthcare System, Palo Alto, CA, USA. 9. Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Patients with cancer spend significant time receiving treatment and recovering from side effects. Little is known about how patients and their caregivers perceive time spent receiving cancer treatment and how this impacts health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Our study aims to characterize perceptions of time invested in receiving cancer therapy as experienced by patients, caregivers, and oncology professionals. METHODS: We conducted semi-structured interviews with patients undergoing treatment for advanced lung cancer and melanoma, their informal caregivers, and oncology professionals (physicians, nurses, social workers, and chaplains). Participants received and provided care at a tertiary cancer center. Interviews were audiorecorded and transcribed verbatim. Transcripts were analyzed qualitatively using predominantly inductive coding to identify themes relating to time perception and cancer care. RESULTS: We interviewed 29 participants (11 patients, 7 informal caregivers, and 11 oncology professionals) and found they consistently differentiated between time remaining in life ("existential time") and time required to manage cancer treatment and symptoms ("chronological time"). Patients and caregivers reported distress around the mechanics of oncologic care that interrupted their daily lives (hobbies, activities). Participants described the impact of time invested in cancer care on dimensions of quality of life, ranging from minimal to substantial negative impact. CONCLUSIONS: We found that the time spent undergoing cancer treatment affects well-being and often prevents patients and caregivers from participating in meaningful activities. The investment of personal time undergoing cancer therapy for patients with advanced solid tumors merits further study and can enhance communication between patients, caregivers, and their oncologists.
PURPOSE:Patients with cancer spend significant time receiving treatment and recovering from side effects. Little is known about how patients and their caregivers perceive time spent receiving cancer treatment and how this impacts health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Our study aims to characterize perceptions of time invested in receiving cancer therapy as experienced by patients, caregivers, and oncology professionals. METHODS: We conducted semi-structured interviews with patients undergoing treatment for advanced lung cancer and melanoma, their informal caregivers, and oncology professionals (physicians, nurses, social workers, and chaplains). Participants received and provided care at a tertiary cancer center. Interviews were audiorecorded and transcribed verbatim. Transcripts were analyzed qualitatively using predominantly inductive coding to identify themes relating to time perception and cancer care. RESULTS: We interviewed 29 participants (11 patients, 7 informal caregivers, and 11 oncology professionals) and found they consistently differentiated between time remaining in life ("existential time") and time required to manage cancer treatment and symptoms ("chronological time"). Patients and caregivers reported distress around the mechanics of oncologic care that interrupted their daily lives (hobbies, activities). Participants described the impact of time invested in cancer care on dimensions of quality of life, ranging from minimal to substantial negative impact. CONCLUSIONS: We found that the time spent undergoing cancer treatment affects well-being and often prevents patients and caregivers from participating in meaningful activities. The investment of personal time undergoing cancer therapy for patients with advanced solid tumors merits further study and can enhance communication between patients, caregivers, and their oncologists.
Entities:
Keywords:
Cancer; Cancer care logistics; Existential distress; Quality of life
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