Information provision to older patients receiving palliative chemotherapy: a quality study

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Palliative Care
• Qualitative Research

Background:

• Cancer treatment advances have shifted focus to prolonging life with palliative chemotherapy.
• Patients with incurable cancer face unique psychological challenges when curative options are exhausted.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the experiences of older patients receiving information about the absence of curative treatment options.
• To understand the dilemmas and perceptions of patients with incurable upper gastrointestinal cancer.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study involving semi-structured interviews with eleven older patients (median age 74) with incurable upper gastrointestinal cancer.
• Thematic analysis using Braun and Clarke's approach was employed to analyze interview data.
• Interviews were conducted in-person or via telephone by an experienced researcher.

Main Results:

• Three main themes emerged: patients' hope for a cure, difficulty comprehending the information, and focus on desired life milestones.
• Patients often concealed their emotions and avoided discussing the disease with healthcare professionals due to fear of confronting the truth.
• The information about incurable cancer presented an ongoing dilemma for patients.

Conclusions:

• The diagnosis of incurable cancer creates significant dilemmas for older patients.
• Patients' post-diagnosis thoughts often revolve around achieving life milestones, spending time with family, or maintaining hope for a future cure.
• Understanding these patient experiences is crucial for providing effective palliative care and communication.