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Unmet needs related to the quality of life of advanced cancer patients in Korea: a qualitative study

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Abstract
BackgroundIt has recently been emphasized that the unmet needs of cancer patients should be evaluated more holistically, for example, by exploring caregivers' perspectives and cross cultural differences. This study explored additional domains or items of unmet needs among Korean cancer patients in reference to the Sheffield Profile for Assessment and Referral to Care (SPARC).MethodsWe conducted four focus group discussions (FGDs) with 15 cancer patients, following a semi-structured format to elicit participants' health perceptions, comments on SPARC, and opinions on the roles of medical professionals to improve the health-related quality of life of cancer patients. We analyzed the verbatim transcripts using a content analysis method.ResultsThe following themes were derived: living as a cancer patient, striving to overcome cancer, changing attitudes toward life after the cancer diagnosis, and ways to live a better life as a cancer patient. The participants asserted the significance of providing adequate treatment information that is easily understood by cancer patients during the conversation between patients and medical professionals. Besides the physical symptoms identified by SPARC, the participants struggled with numbness in their hands and feet and hair loss. Korean cancer patients prominently wished to avoid burdening their family or others in their daily life. They considered the improvement of health behaviors, such as diet and exercise, as part of the treatment, which was not limited to drugs. Furthermore, it was essential to evaluate the value of cancer patients' lives, as they desired to be helpful members of their families and society.ConclusionsThis study identified additional domains and items of unmet needs of Korean cancer patients and broadened the understanding of unmet needs among cancer patients.
Author(s)
고수진권정혜김주희김혜영민영주옥민수이미나임현수조주희천재경표지희
Issued Date
2021
Type
Article
Keyword
Cancer therapiesChemotherapyCultural differencesFocus groupsHealth services needs and demandHealth-related quality of lifeMedical researchPalliative carePatient satisfactionPreventive medicineQualitative researchQuality of lifeResearch methodologyResearchers Supervision
DOI
10.1186/s12904-021-00749-8
URI
https://oak.ulsan.ac.kr/handle/2021.oak/7904
https://ulsan-primo.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/primo-explore/fulldisplay?docid=TN_cdi_doaj_primary_oai_doaj_org_article_a02cbcc5e94b46288083484dd07389a3&context=PC&vid=ULSAN&lang=ko_KR&search_scope=default_scope&adaptor=primo_central_multiple_fe&tab=default_tab&query=any,contains,Unmet%20needs%20related%20to%20the%20quality%20of%20life%20of%20advanced%20cancer%20patients%20in%20Korea:%20a%20qualitative%20study&offset=0&pcAvailability=true
Publisher
BMC PALLIATIVE CARE
Location
미국
Language
영어
ISSN
1472-684X
Citation Volume
20
Citation Number
1
Citation Start Page
0
Citation End Page
0
Appears in Collections:
Medicine > Medicine
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