|
1
|
Ploukou S, Papakosta-Gaki Ε, Panagopoulou E, Benos A, Smyrnakis E. Unmet Needs in the Process of Chemotherapy Provision in Pancreatic Cancer Patients from the Healthcare Provider Perspective: A Phenomenological Study in Greece. Zdr Varst 2024; 63:73-80. [PMID: 38517148 PMCID: PMC10954243 DOI: 10.2478/sjph-2024-0011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death overall, with 1.5 years life expectancy and minimal therapeutic progress in the last decades. Despite the burden it causes, there is little research on the needs of this specific population. This study aimed to explore healthcare professionals' views on providing care and patients' unsatisfied needs. Methods This qualitative descriptive study was carried out at a cancer hospital in Northern Greece. A total of 12 participants (6 physicians and 6 nurses), treating patients with pancreatic cancer undergoing chemotherapy, were recruited through purposive sampling and underwent face-to-face semi-structured interviews. Data were analyzed through the thematic analysis method in NVivo12 software. Results The analysis highlighted two themes: "needs of patients with pancreatic cancer" consisted of 6 subthemes ("daily activities", "symptoms management", "psychological support", "information needs", "multidisciplinary care" and "end-of-life care") and "needs of healthcare professionals" had 3 subthemes ("psychological support", "education" and "organizational support"). Several symptoms are identified and affect the daily activities of these patients, and psychological support is important for the majority of them, even at the time of diagnosis. The participants express dissatisfaction with the absence of palliative care structures and services and stated that an interdisciplinary approach would improve the quality of care. Conclusions Healthcare professionals report a wide range of unsatisfied needs of patients with pancreatic cancer, with the majority expressing their concerns about the complete lack of patient support in the last stages of their lives.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stella Ploukou
- Laboratory of Primary Health Care, General Practice and Health Services Research - Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Εleni Papakosta-Gaki
- Laboratory of Primary Health Care, General Practice and Health Services Research - Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Efharis Panagopoulou
- Laboratory of Primary Health Care, General Practice and Health Services Research - Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Alexios Benos
- Laboratory of Primary Health Care, General Practice and Health Services Research - Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Emmanoui Smyrnakis
- Laboratory of Primary Health Care, General Practice and Health Services Research - Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece
| |
Collapse
|
|
2
|
Bore MG, Dadi AF, Ahmed KY, Hassen TA, Kibret GD, Kassa ZY, Amsalu E, Ketema DB, Perry L, Alemu AA, Shifa JE, Alebel A, Leshargie CT, Bizuayehu HM. Unmet Supportive Care Needs Among Cancer Patients in Sub-Saharan African Countries: A Mixed Method Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Pain Symptom Manage 2024; 67:e211-e227. [PMID: 38043746 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2023.11.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Revised: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Supportive cancer care is vital to reducing the current disparities in cancer outcomes in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), including poor survival and low quality of life, and ultimately achieving equity in cancer care. This is the first review aimed to evaluate the extent of unmet supportive care needs and identify their contributing factors among patients with cancer in SSA. METHODS Six electronic databases (CINAHL, Embase, Medline [Ovid], PsycINFO, PubMed, and Cochrane Library of Databases] were systematically searched. Studies that addressed one or more domains of unmet supportive cancer care needs were included. Findings were analyzed using narrative analysis and meta-analysis, as appropriate. RESULT Eleven articles out of 2732 were retained in the review. The pooled prevalence of perceived unmet need for cancer care in SSA was 63% (95% CI: 45, 81) for physical, 59% (95% CI: 45, 72) for health information and system, 58% (95% CI: 42, 74) for psychological, 44% (95% CI: 29, 59) for patient care and support, and 43% (95% CI: 23, 63) for sexual. Older age, female sex, rural residence, advanced cancer stage, and low access to health information were related to high rates of multiple unmet needs within supportive care domains. CONCLUSION In SSA, optimal cancer care provision was low, up to two-thirds of patients reported unmet needs for one or more domains. Strengthening efforts to develop comprehensive and integrated systems for supportive care services are keys to improving the clinical outcome, survival, and quality of life of cancer patients in SSA.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Meless Gebrie Bore
- School of Nursing and Midwifery (M.G.B., Z.Y.K.), Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, New South Wales, Australia; School of Nursing (M.G.B.), College of Medicine and Health Science, Hawassa University, Hawassa, Ethiopia.
| | - Abel Fekadu Dadi
- Menzies School of Health Research (A.F.D.), Charles Darwin University, Northern Territory, Australia; Addis Continental Institute of Public Health (A.F.D.), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
| | - Kedir Yimam Ahmed
- Rural Health Research Institute (K.Y.A.), Charles Sturt University, Orange, New South Wales, Australia.
| | - Tahir Ahmed Hassen
- Center for Women's Health Research (T.A.H.), College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, the University of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia.
| | - Getiye Dejenu Kibret
- School of Public Health (G.D.K., D.B.K., A.A., C.T.L.), College of Medicine and Health Science, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Ethiopia; Save Sight Institute (G.D.K.), The University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Zemenu Yohannes Kassa
- School of Nursing and Midwifery (M.G.B., Z.Y.K.), Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, New South Wales, Australia; Department of Midwifery (Z.Y.K.), College of Medicine and Health Science, Hawassa University, Hawassa, Ethiopia
| | - Erkihun Amsalu
- Sydney Medical School (E.A.), Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; St. Paul Hospital Millennium Medical College (E.A.), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Daniel Bekele Ketema
- School of Public Health (G.D.K., D.B.K., A.A., C.T.L.), College of Medicine and Health Science, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Ethiopia; The George Institute for Global Health (D.B.K.), University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, Australia.
| | - Lin Perry
- Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney (L.P.), Ultimo, Australia; Prince of Wales Hospital (L.P.), Randwick, New South Wales, Australia.
| | - Addisu Alehegn Alemu
- School of Women's and Children's Health (A.A.A.), University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia; College of Medicine and Health Science (A.A.A.), Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Ethiopia.
| | - Jemal Ebrahim Shifa
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Health (J.E.S., A.A., C.T.L.), University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, New South Wales, Australia.
| | - Animut Alebel
- School of Public Health (G.D.K., D.B.K., A.A., C.T.L.), College of Medicine and Health Science, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Ethiopia; School of Public Health, Faculty of Health (J.E.S., A.A., C.T.L.), University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, New South Wales, Australia.
| | - Cheru Tesema Leshargie
- School of Public Health (G.D.K., D.B.K., A.A., C.T.L.), College of Medicine and Health Science, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Ethiopia; School of Public Health, Faculty of Health (J.E.S., A.A., C.T.L.), University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, New South Wales, Australia.
| | - Habtamu Mellie Bizuayehu
- First Nations Cancer and Wellbeing (FNCW) Research Program (H.M.B.), School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|