RESUMO
BACKGROUND: The announcement of a cancer diagnosis represents a real turning point, significantly and pessimistically changing the patient's vision of his future. The task of the healthcare professional in communicating bad news is complex. It requires careful use of words, establishing a relationship of trust, a patient approach, and encouraging the person affected by cancer to express their emotions. This is a sociological study of a series of cancer patient cases designed to reveal the different perceptions and experiences of cancer patients with regard to the announcement of the diagnosis of cancer by healthcare professionals. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This descriptive qualitative study was done in 2022. The participants were selected from cancer patients cases treated in the Fès-Meknès Region. Participants in this study were 35 patients selected using a purposeful sampling method. Data were collected using in-depth semi-structured interviews. The qualitative content analysis approach was used to analyze the data using Atlas.ti software. RESULT: A double suffering has been observed among cancer patients with regard to the announcement of their cancer diagnosis. In addition to the intensification of negative feelings and distress at the time of the announcement, dissatisfaction has been observed with the way in which the cancer diagnosis is communicated. The announcement does not address the holistic needs of the cancer patient, particularly with respect to health literacy. This finding is justified by limitations in relation to the basic training of the medical and nursing cops with regard to the announcement of the diagnosis. CONCLUSION: This event represents a critical moment, requiring a multidisciplinary approach and involving various professionals involved in cancer management. Health professionals need to develop the skills necessary to accurately but smoothly announce a cancer diagnosis in order to maintain hope regardless of prognosis. Thus, an indispensable aspect to take into account in diagnostic communication is the cancer patient's level of literacy.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: If in the past the relationship between caregiver and patient was paternalistic based on the principle of protection, the advent of health democracy has made this relationship evolve to build it on the principles of equality and autonomy for the patient. However, this practice leaves something to be desired, given the forms of inequality in access to information that mark the relationship between caregiver and cancer patient. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The objective of this qualitative study is to present a sociological view of the process of shaping inequalities in access to information and its determinants. The study took place in the medical prefecture of Meknes, with a target population consisting of cancer patients treated in public and private health establishments. A qualitative content analysis approach using semi-structured interviews was employed. RESULT: A diversity of attitudes of the cancer patient with regard to the information, depending on whether the patient is strongly or weakly involved by the health professional in his or her illness or in the care he or she receives. In this case: a) active patient better informed; b) passive patient more or less informed; c) patient in denial who refuses to be informed. CONCLUSION: It seems that the issue of inequality of access to information is not a topical one, and yet it is given little consideration in the policies of the Ministry of Health, particularly in the fight against cancer in Morocco.