Survivorship transitions in blood cancer: Identifying experiences and supportive care needs for caregivers.
J Cancer Surviv
; 2023 Jul 07.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-37420150
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE:
Survivorship care often refers to continued healthcare after cancer treatment. Jacobsen and colleagues advocated to expand this to include patients on extended treatments and maintenance/prophylactic therapies, recognizing the care continuum as more complex. Transitions of care for individuals diagnosed with a blood cancer can be complicated. We sought to better understand blood cancer caregivers' experiences as their diagnosed family member encountered "survivorship transitions" across the continuum.METHODS:
We conducted semi-structured interviews with adults caring for a parent or a child with a blood cancer. Caregivers were segmented into survivorship groups based on two transitional contexts (1) when patients transitioned to a new line of therapy (active treatment or maintenance therapy); (2) when patients ended treatment. We conducted a thematic analysis and triangulated findings to compare transitional experiences.RESULTS:
Caregivers in both groups reported experiencing a "new normal," which included personal, relational, and environmental adjustments. Caregivers in the treatment transitions group (n = 23) also described uncertainty challenges (e.g., losing their "safety net") and disrupted expectations (e.g., feeling "caught off guard" by challenges). Whereas caregivers in the end-of-treatment transitions group (n = 15) described relief coupled with worry (e.g., feeling hopeful yet worried).CONCLUSIONS:
Survivorship transitions for caregivers are riddled with challenges that include difficult readjustments, uncertainty/worry, and unmet expectations. While there seems to be a cohesive experience of "survivorship transitions," each transition group revealed nuanced distinctions. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS Tailored supportive resources are needed for caregivers throughout survivorship transitions.
Texto completo:
1
Bases de dados:
MEDLINE
Tipo de estudo:
Prognostic_studies
/
Qualitative_research
Idioma:
En
Revista:
J Cancer Surviv
Ano de publicação:
2023
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Estados Unidos