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Pathways to a lung cancer diagnosis
Lisa Carter-Harris1, Carla Penrod Hermann2, Claire Burke Draucker1
1School of Nursing, Indiana University, Indianapolis, Indiana.
Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners
|March 17, 2015
Summary
Understanding the patient journey is key for early lung cancer diagnosis. This study identified four distinct pathways patients experienced, offering insights for healthcare providers.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Qualitative Health Research
- Patient Experience
Background:
- Lung cancer diagnosis can be complex and influenced by patient and healthcare system factors.
- Understanding the patient's perspective is crucial for improving diagnostic timeliness.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and describe the various pathways leading to a lung cancer diagnosis.
- To develop a typology of these diagnostic pathways based on patient narratives.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative descriptive study design.
- Semi-structured interviews with 11 adults diagnosed with lung cancer.
- Qualitative content analysis to develop a pathway typology.
Main Results:
- Four distinct pathways to diagnosis were identified: missing opportunities, waiting and seeing, being alarmed, and being blindsided.
- These pathways highlight diverse patient experiences and potential delays in diagnosis.
Conclusions:
- The developed typology provides a framework for understanding lung cancer diagnostic journeys.
- Findings have implications for nurse practitioners (NPs) and other healthcare providers to improve early detection and care for at-risk individuals.
