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Decision making in the oesophageal cancer trajectory a source of tension and edginess to patients and relatives: a qualitative study.
- Source :
-
International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health & Well-Being . Dec2023, Vol. 18 Issue 1, p1-12. 12p. - Publication Year :
- 2023
-
Abstract
- Purpose: The curative oesophageal cancer continuum--diagnosis, treatment and survivorship represents different phases with its own challenges for the involved parties. The process of treatment decisions and interactions between patients with oesophageal cancer (EC), relatives and health professionals is vital yet not well described. The purpose of the study was to explore patients' and relatives' experiences with the process of decision-making through the EC illness and treatment trajectory. Methods: Longitudinal explorative design was employed based on ethnographic fieldwork in the form of participant observations inspired by the American anthropologist James Spradley. Results: Sixteen patients and 18 relatives were recruited for participant observations. In total, 184 hours of participant observations were conducted. The study showed that decisionmaking was filled with tension and edginess. Four themes were identified: 1) The encounter with the medical authority, 2) The need to see the big picture in the treatment trajectory, 3) A predetermined treatment decision, and 4) Meeting numerous different health professionals. Conclusion: The EC trajectory and decision-making were filled with anxiety. Patients and relatives lacked an overview of the treatment pathway, leading to their role in decisionmaking often being governed by the medical authority. Timing information and continuity are vital factors in decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- *RESEARCH
*HUMAN research subjects
*PATIENT decision making
*EXTENDED families
*PHYSICIAN-patient relations
*PATIENTS' attitudes
*FAMILY attitudes
*EXPERIENCE
*FIELDWORK (Educational method)
*INFORMED consent (Medical law)
*PATIENT-family relations
*DECISION making
*PSYCHOSOCIAL factors
*FIELD notes (Science)
*DESCRIPTIVE statistics
*RESEARCH funding
*PARTICIPANT observation
*DECISION making in clinical medicine
*ESOPHAGEAL tumors
*PSYCHOLOGICAL stress
*LONGITUDINAL method
*CANCER patient medical care
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 17482623
- Volume :
- 18
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health & Well-Being
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 174693206
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2023.2170018