Jeehee Pyo1,2, Minsu Ock3, Mina Lee1, Juhee Kim4, Jaekyung Cheon4, Juhee Cho5, Jung Hye Kwon6, Hyeyeoung Kim4, Hyeon-Su Im4, Young Joo Min4, Su-Jin Koh7. 1. Department of Preventive Medicine, Ulsan University Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 877 Bangeojinsunhwando-ro, Dong-gu, Ulsan, 44033, Republic of Korea. 2. Department of Preventive Medicine, Asan Medical Institute of Convergence Science and Technology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea. 3. Department of Preventive Medicine, Ulsan University Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 877 Bangeojinsunhwando-ro, Dong-gu, Ulsan, 44033, Republic of Korea. ohohoms@naver.com. 4. Department of Hematology and Oncology, Ulsan University Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 877 Bangeojinsunhwando-ro, Dong-gu, Ulsan, 44033, Republic of Korea. 5. Samsung Comprehensive Cancer Center, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea. 6. Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chungnam National University Sejong Hospital, Chungnam National University College of Medicine, Chungnam, Republic of Korea. 7. Department of Hematology and Oncology, Ulsan University Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 877 Bangeojinsunhwando-ro, Dong-gu, Ulsan, 44033, Republic of Korea. sujinkoh@uuh.ulsan.kr.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: It has recently been emphasized that the unmet needs of cancer patients should be evaluated more holistically, for example, by exploring caregivers' perspectives and cross cultural differences. This study explored additional domains or items of unmet needs among Korean cancer patients in reference to the Sheffield Profile for Assessment and Referral to Care (SPARC). METHODS: We conducted four focus group discussions (FGDs) with 15 cancer patients, following a semi-structured format to elicit participants' health perceptions, comments on SPARC, and opinions on the roles of medical professionals to improve the health-related quality of life of cancer patients. We analyzed the verbatim transcripts using a content analysis method. RESULTS: The following themes were derived: living as a cancer patient, striving to overcome cancer, changing attitudes toward life after the cancer diagnosis, and ways to live a better life as a cancer patient. The participants asserted the significance of providing adequate treatment information that is easily understood by cancer patients during the conversation between patients and medical professionals. Besides the physical symptoms identified by SPARC, the participants struggled with numbness in their hands and feet and hair loss. Korean cancer patients prominently wished to avoid burdening their family or others in their daily life. They considered the improvement of health behaviors, such as diet and exercise, as part of the treatment, which was not limited to drugs. Furthermore, it was essential to evaluate the value of cancer patients' lives, as they desired to be helpful members of their families and society. CONCLUSIONS: This study identified additional domains and items of unmet needs of Korean cancer patients and broadened the understanding of unmet needs among cancer patients.
BACKGROUND: It has recently been emphasized that the unmet needs of cancerpatients should be evaluated more holistically, for example, by exploring caregivers' perspectives and cross cultural differences. This study explored additional domains or items of unmet needs among Korean cancerpatients in reference to the Sheffield Profile for Assessment and Referral to Care (SPARC). METHODS: We conducted four focus group discussions (FGDs) with 15 cancerpatients, following a semi-structured format to elicit participants' health perceptions, comments on SPARC, and opinions on the roles of medical professionals to improve the health-related quality of life of cancerpatients. We analyzed the verbatim transcripts using a content analysis method. RESULTS: The following themes were derived: living as a cancerpatient, striving to overcome cancer, changing attitudes toward life after the cancer diagnosis, and ways to live a better life as a cancerpatient. The participants asserted the significance of providing adequate treatment information that is easily understood by cancerpatients during the conversation between patients and medical professionals. Besides the physical symptoms identified by SPARC, the participants struggled with numbness in their hands and feet and hair loss. Korean cancerpatients prominently wished to avoid burdening their family or others in their daily life. They considered the improvement of health behaviors, such as diet and exercise, as part of the treatment, which was not limited to drugs. Furthermore, it was essential to evaluate the value of cancerpatients' lives, as they desired to be helpful members of their families and society. CONCLUSIONS: This study identified additional domains and items of unmet needs of Korean cancerpatients and broadened the understanding of unmet needs among cancerpatients.
Entities:
Keywords:
Health services needs and demand; Health-related quality of life; Patient satisfaction; Qualitative research