Exploring Patient Experiences of Symptom Support From Healthcare Professionals in Acute and Chronic Illness: A Qualitative Study

BACKGROUND: Symptoms are a central part of living with illness, and healthcare professionals play a crucial role in supporting patients in the managing of these. Symptom support is not only about alleviating physical discomfort but also about addressing the subjective and existential dimensions of illness. Understanding how patients experience such support is essential for strengthening communication, dignity, and person-centred care.

AIMS: This study aims to explore the meaning of patients' experience of support from HCP in managing symptoms, and how this meaning shapes their understanding of symptoms and subsequent strategies.

METHODS: A qualitative design was applied. In-depth interviews were conducted with 10 patients diagnosed with acute or chronic illness and receiving care in hospital and outpatient settings. Data were analysed using a phenomenological hermeneutic approach inspired by Ricoeur.

FINDINGS: Three themes were identified. Caught in the gaps of continuity in care describes how patients experienced symptom support as fragmented and inconsistent, shaped both by organisational structures and the professionals they encountered. Dialogue, relationship and professional knowledge as a vulnerable space highlights how encounters with healthcare professionals were perceived as fragile moments, where recognition, time, and competence could either foster trust or leave patients feeling exposed. Between silence and support in the healthcare encounter reflects how organisational structures and clinical routines often failed to address patients' concerns, creating silent spaces where symptoms and existential needs were overlooked.

CONCLUSIONS: Patient experiences reveal how symptom support is shaped by both relational vulnerability and systemic fragmentation. When symptoms are overlooked, patients feel abandoned and burdened with coordinating their own care. Strengthening relational continuity, clarifying roles across professions explicitly to patients, and prioritising dialogue and empathy in clinical encounters are crucial steps toward ensuring person-centred symptom management that promotes dignity and well-being.