Perspectives on Emotional Care: A Qualitative Study with Cancer Patients, Carers, and Health Professionals
Details
Publication Year 2023,Volume 11,Issue #4,Page 452
Journal Title
Healthcare
Publication Type
Research article
Abstract
The emotional consequences of a cancer diagnosis are well documented and range from emotional distress, defined as suffering associated with feelings such as shock, fear, and uncertainty, through to psychological distress that may manifest as depression, anxiety, feelings of hopelessness, or heightened risk of suicide. This study set out to explore the assumption that the provision of emotional care should be the platform upon which all other aspects of cancer care are delivered and, that without attention to emotional care, no other aspects of cancer care can be fully realized. Utilizing qualitative focus groups and in-depth interviews with 47 patients, carers, and health professionals, emotional care was shown to be (1) fundamental to the provision of comprehensive cancer care, (2) essential to easing the burden of a cancer diagnosis and demands of treatment, (3) everyone's business, and (4) a component of cancer care at any time and every time. Future studies are needed to test interventions to enhance provision of intentional, purposeful, and individualized emotional care to help patents achieve the best health outcomes possible.
Publisher
MDPI
Department(s)
Academic Nursing
PubMed ID
36832985
Open Access at Publisher's Site
https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11040452
Terms of Use/Rights Notice
Refer to copyright notice on published article.


Creation Date: 2023-05-30 07:27:57
Last Modified: 2023-05-30 07:28:52

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