Community cancer clinics: patients' perspectives

In response to the challenge of providing care for cancer patients closer to home, community chemotherapy outreach programs are being developed as part of regional cancer care organizations. The purpose of this qualitative study was to gain an understanding of cancer patients' experiences of receiving chemotherapy at community chemotherapy clinics. In total, 28 patients who had received chemotherapy at 13 community-based clinics were interviewed. Qualitative analysis of the interview transcripts revealed two prevalent themes. One theme, called "balancing gains and losses," reflected how patients considered and evaluated two dimensions when making decisions about where best to undergo treatment. The dimensions considered were quality of life versus biomedical expertise. The second theme, called "communication links," reflected patients' perceptions about the continuity of their cancer care. The results of the study suggest that the impact of the delivery of services on patients and their families needs attention.