TY - JOUR
T1 - Professionalsʼ perspectives on caring for cancer patients with pre-existing severe mental disorders
AU - Bruun, Josefine Maria
AU - Andreassen, Pernille
AU - Fløe, Louise Elkjær
AU - Eriksen, Jesper Grau
AU - Videbech, Poul
AU - Johnsen, Søren Paaske
AU - Neergaardsen, Mette Asbjoern
N1 - Published under Open Access CC-BY-NC-BD 4.0. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/.
PY - 2024/4/23
Y1 - 2024/4/23
N2 - INTRODUCTION: Cancer trajectories among patients with pre-existing severe mental disorders (SMD) are challenging and these pateints' prognosis is poor. This study aimed at exploring barriers in cancer trajectories among patients with pre-existing SMD as experienced by Danish healthcare professionals.METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with healthcare professionals who were sampled by purposive sampling. Data were analysed using inductive qualitative content analysis.RESULTS: The participants wanted to optimise treatment, but several barriers were reported, including lack of knowledge of supportive social systems. Oncological participants experienced a lack of knowledge of psychiatric disorders and a reluctance to deal with patients with SMD among some colleagues. Furthermore, participants expressed a lack of time and continuity.CONCLUSIONS: Concerns about how to create optimal cancer care trajectories for people with pre-existing SMD exist among healthcare professionals. Even so, stigmatisation, lack of knowledge and system barriers such as a lack of time and continuity must be addressed to optimise care for this population.FUNDING: This study was funded by The Danish Cancer Society (R283-A16499).TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study is registered in the internal register of research projects of the Central Denmark Region (R. no. 1-16-02-227-21).
AB - INTRODUCTION: Cancer trajectories among patients with pre-existing severe mental disorders (SMD) are challenging and these pateints' prognosis is poor. This study aimed at exploring barriers in cancer trajectories among patients with pre-existing SMD as experienced by Danish healthcare professionals.METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with healthcare professionals who were sampled by purposive sampling. Data were analysed using inductive qualitative content analysis.RESULTS: The participants wanted to optimise treatment, but several barriers were reported, including lack of knowledge of supportive social systems. Oncological participants experienced a lack of knowledge of psychiatric disorders and a reluctance to deal with patients with SMD among some colleagues. Furthermore, participants expressed a lack of time and continuity.CONCLUSIONS: Concerns about how to create optimal cancer care trajectories for people with pre-existing SMD exist among healthcare professionals. Even so, stigmatisation, lack of knowledge and system barriers such as a lack of time and continuity must be addressed to optimise care for this population.FUNDING: This study was funded by The Danish Cancer Society (R283-A16499).TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study is registered in the internal register of research projects of the Central Denmark Region (R. no. 1-16-02-227-21).
KW - Humans
KW - Neoplasms/psychology
KW - Denmark
KW - Mental Disorders/psychology
KW - Male
KW - Female
KW - Attitude of Health Personnel
KW - Qualitative Research
KW - Adult
KW - Middle Aged
KW - Health Personnel/psychology
KW - Interviews as Topic
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85192318857&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.61409/A08230497
DO - 10.61409/A08230497
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 38704839
SN - 1603-9629
VL - 71
JO - Danish Medical Journal
JF - Danish Medical Journal
IS - 5
M1 - A08230497
ER -