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Challenges faced by palliative care physicians when caring for doctors with advanced cancer
S I R Noble1, A Nelson, I G Finlay
1Department of Palliative Medicine, Cardiff University and Royal Gwent Hospital, Wales. simon.noble@gwent.wales.nhs.uk
Palliative Medicine
|January 25, 2008
Summary
Palliative care physicians find that doctors with advanced cancer struggle to accept a patient role, often maintaining control and potentially receiving suboptimal care. Awareness of these unique challenges is crucial for improving care for medical professionals with cancer.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Palliative Care
- Medical Sociology
Background:
- Patients with advanced cancer from the medical profession may have unique care needs due to their background.
- Professional experiences and access to information can influence their needs and illness behavior.
- Caring for physician-patients can evoke complex emotions and challenges for healthcare professionals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the experiences of palliative care physicians caring for physicians with advanced incurable cancer.
- To understand the specific challenges and emotional responses involved in treating doctor-patients.
Main Methods:
- Semi-structured interviews with ten senior palliative care physicians.
- Interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) of transcribed interviews.
- Physicians had a combined 107 years of experience, having cared for approximately 120 doctor-patients.
Main Results:
- Doctor-patients often struggle to relinquish control, employing strategies to manage their care.
- Referrals to palliative care may be delayed for doctor-patients compared to lay patients.
- Caring for colleagues elicits strong emotions in physicians, including anxiety and pressure regarding confidential information.
- Perceived preferential treatment can sometimes lead to suboptimal care for doctor-patients.
Conclusions:
- While core needs are similar, the transition from professional to patient creates unique needs and professional responses.
- Awareness of these dynamics can help mitigate problems for both doctor-patients and their treating physicians.
- Proactive understanding can enhance the care experience for medical professionals facing advanced cancer.
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