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Women's experiences along the ovarian cancer diagnostic pathway in Catalonia: A qualitative study.
Vela-Vallespín, Carmen; Medina-Perucha, Laura; Jacques-Aviñó, Constanza; Codern-Bové, Núria; Harris, Meggan; Borras, Josep M; Marzo-Castillejo, Mercè.
Afiliação
  • Vela-Vallespín C; Primary Health Care Center Riu Nord i Riu Sud, Catalan Health Institut, Barcelona, Spain.
  • Medina-Perucha L; Research Support Unit Metropolitana Nord, University Institute for Primary Health Care Research (IDIAP) Jordi Gol, Catalan Health Institute, Barcelona, Spain.
  • Jacques-Aviñó C; Unitat Transversal de la Recerca, Fundació Institut Universitari per a la Recerca a l'Atenció Primària de Salut Jordi Gol i Gurina (IDIAPJGol), Barcelona, Spain.
  • Codern-Bové N; Unitat Transversal de la Recerca, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
  • Harris M; Unitat Transversal de la Recerca, Fundació Institut Universitari per a la Recerca a l'Atenció Primària de Salut Jordi Gol i Gurina (IDIAPJGol), Barcelona, Spain.
  • Borras JM; Unitat Transversal de la Recerca, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
  • Marzo-Castillejo M; Department of Nursing, Escola Universitària d'Infermeria i Teràpia Ocupacional de Terrassa, Universitat Autònoma Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Health Expect ; 26(1): 476-487, 2023 02.
Article em En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36447409
BACKGROUND: Early detection of symptoms and prompt diagnosis of ovarian cancer are considered important avenues for improving patient experiences and outcomes. METHODS: This qualitative study used a phenomenological approach to perform patient interviews, collecting individual accounts of the prediagnostic phase in women diagnosed and treated for ovarian cancer in 2016-2017. Purposive sampling was used to obtain a diverse sample of 24 participants, while thematic content analysis was used to extract themes and subthemes from interview data. RESULTS: Three themes and nine subthemes were identified. The first theme was women's delay in recognizing symptoms and seeking care, with subthemes on the lack of knowledge about early signs of ovarian cancer, gender-related barriers and false reassurance from negative test results. A second theme was missed opportunities during healthcare encounters, due to misattribution of women's symptoms by their physicians, underestimation of symptom severity and need for mediation and inadequate tests and/or false negative results. Finally, interviews highlighted the use of resources and alternative healthcare pathways, including complementary/alternative medicines, access to private health care and women's capacity for action and decision-making (agency) about their health. CONCLUSION: Delayed diagnosis of ovarian cancer is rooted in both individual factors (lack of health literacy, reluctance to seek care) and systemic issues (missed opportunities in healthcare encounters, access to timely specialist care). Further research is needed to investigate the extent to which traditional gender roles and socioeconomic inequalities condition women's ability to manage their own health and to interact with health professionals and the health system. PATIENT AND PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: In addition to the patient participation during the interviews, one author was a representative of a patient association.
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Texto completo: 1 Coleções: 01-internacional Base de dados: MEDLINE Assunto principal: Neoplasias Ovarianas / Atenção à Saúde Tipo de estudo: Diagnostic_studies / Prognostic_studies / Qualitative_research / Screening_studies Limite: Female / Humans País/Região como assunto: Europa Idioma: En Revista: Health Expect Assunto da revista: PESQUISA EM SERVICOS DE SAUDE / SAUDE PUBLICA Ano de publicação: 2023 Tipo de documento: Article País de afiliação: Espanha

Texto completo: 1 Coleções: 01-internacional Base de dados: MEDLINE Assunto principal: Neoplasias Ovarianas / Atenção à Saúde Tipo de estudo: Diagnostic_studies / Prognostic_studies / Qualitative_research / Screening_studies Limite: Female / Humans País/Região como assunto: Europa Idioma: En Revista: Health Expect Assunto da revista: PESQUISA EM SERVICOS DE SAUDE / SAUDE PUBLICA Ano de publicação: 2023 Tipo de documento: Article País de afiliação: Espanha