May Ingvild Volungholen Sollid1, Øyvind Kirkevold2, Marit Slaaen3, Bente Ervik4, Line Melby5, Grethe Eilertsen6. 1. Research Centre for Age Related Functional Decline and Diseases, Innlandet Hospital Trust, Ottestad, Norway; Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) Gjøvik, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Health Sciences, Gjøvik, Norway. Electronic address: mayiso@sykehuset-innlandet.no. 2. Research Centre for Age Related Functional Decline and Diseases, Innlandet Hospital Trust, Ottestad, Norway; Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) Gjøvik, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Health Sciences, Gjøvik, Norway; Norwegian National Advisory Unit on Ageing and Health, Vestfold Hospital Trust, Tønsberg, Norway. 3. Research Centre for Age Related Functional Decline and Diseases, Innlandet Hospital Trust, Ottestad, Norway; Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Blindern, Oslo, Norway; Dept. Of Internal Medicine, Hamar Hospital, Innlandet Hospital Trust, Brumunddal, Norway. 4. Department of Oncology, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, Norway. 5. Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) Gjøvik, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Health Sciences, Gjøvik, Norway. 6. USN Research Group of Older Peoples' Health, University of South-Eastern Norway Department of Nursing and Health Sciences, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, University of South-Eastern Norway, Grønland 58, Drammen, Norway.
Abstract
PURPOSE: To explore and describe experiences of older patients with cancer throughout their radiotherapy treatment, from diagnosis until follow-up after treatment. METHODS: Individual interviews were conducted to explore different phases of radiotherapy. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Inductive content analysis was applied. Each interview was coded separately. Then to the codes were analyzed further, and an overall theme was developed. RESULTS: Twelve older patients with cancer, (7 male, 5 female) aged ≥ 65 related their experiences from radiotherapy treatment. A main theme describes the essence of their experiences; Understanding "just enough". The theme comprises five main categories: Understandable, adapted information is crucial for trusting health services; Previous experiences influence patients' perception and understanding; Involvement of next of kin is crucial to patients' comprehension; Professional treatment decisions and well-organized treatment determines satisfaction and Experiences of cooperation and coordination of services affects dependability. CONCLUSIONS: Findings from this study describe how understanding "just enough" - not too much nor too little - may assist older patients with cancer in participating in treatment decisions, preventing false beliefs, feeling reassured during treatment and in navigating the complex health care system. Next of kin are important assets for older patients with cancer in understanding "just enough". Cancer nurses may map comprehension of information, as well as reveal patients' previous experiences.
PURPOSE: To explore and describe experiences of older patients with cancer throughout their radiotherapy treatment, from diagnosis until follow-up after treatment. METHODS: Individual interviews were conducted to explore different phases of radiotherapy. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Inductive content analysis was applied. Each interview was coded separately. Then to the codes were analyzed further, and an overall theme was developed. RESULTS: Twelve older patients with cancer, (7 male, 5 female) aged ≥ 65 related their experiences from radiotherapy treatment. A main theme describes the essence of their experiences; Understanding "just enough". The theme comprises five main categories: Understandable, adapted information is crucial for trusting health services; Previous experiences influence patients' perception and understanding; Involvement of next of kin is crucial to patients' comprehension; Professional treatment decisions and well-organized treatment determines satisfaction and Experiences of cooperation and coordination of services affects dependability. CONCLUSIONS: Findings from this study describe how understanding "just enough" - not too much nor too little - may assist older patients with cancer in participating in treatment decisions, preventing false beliefs, feeling reassured during treatment and in navigating the complex health care system. Next of kin are important assets for older patients with cancer in understanding "just enough". Cancer nurses may map comprehension of information, as well as reveal patients' previous experiences.
Authors: May Ingvild Volungholen Sollid; Marit Slaaen; Signe Danielsen; Øyvind Kirkevold Journal: Int J Qual Health Care Date: 2022-09-15 Impact factor: 2.257