TY - JOUR

T1 - Professionals' 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 - JohnNeergaardsen, Mette Asbjoern

N1 - Publisher Copyright: Published under Open Access CC-BY-NC-BD 4.0. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/.

PY - 2024

Y1 - 2024

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).

U2 - 10.61409/A08230497

DO - 10.61409/A08230497

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 38704839

AN - SCOPUS:85192318857

VL - 71

JO - Danish Medical Journal

JF - Danish Medical Journal

SN - 2245-1919

IS - 5

M1 - A08230497

ER -