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A qualitative exploration of the unmet psychosocial rehabilitation needs of cancer survivors in China
Author(s) -
Wang JiWei,
Shen Qian,
Ding Ning,
Zhang TianRui,
Yang ZhiQi,
Liu Cong,
Chen SiJia,
Berry Helen Louise,
Yuan ZhengPing,
Yu JinMing
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
psycho‐oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.41
H-Index - 137
eISSN - 1099-1611
pISSN - 1057-9249
DOI - 10.1002/pon.4023
Subject(s) - psychosocial , thematic analysis , rehabilitation , cancer survivor , qualitative research , medicine , cancer , focus group , family medicine , gerontology , psychiatry , physical therapy , business , social science , marketing , sociology
Abstract Objective This study explores the unmet psychosocial rehabilitation needs of cancer survivors. Methods Sixty‐eight cancer survivors from the Shanghai Cancer Rehabilitation Club in China participated in one of the eight focus groups. These were transcribed verbatim, coded using thematic analysis and analysed using NVivo 10. Results Five main themes were identified: the need for (1) better information: Chinese cancer survivors find it difficult to sort and evaluate the overwhelming mass of information with which they are confronted; (2) psychological support: survivors fear cancer relapse and neighbours' discrimination against them; support from other cancer survivors can relieve the stress; (3) support for survivors' families: like the survivors, family members are under great but usually unacknowledged pressure; (4) improved health and medical services: community health service centres provide little medical, informational or psychological support for cancer survivors, who seek and expect more communication with doctors; and (5) assistance with the financial burden: costs of treatment and lack of adequate medical insurance cause substantial financial pressure for survivors. Conclusions This study shows that, in addition to their illness, Chinese cancer survivors experience a range of stresses related to their financial circumstances, lack of reliable and summarised information, poor access to support and services (including for their families) and discrimination. Support from families seems to improve survivors' ability to cope. Cancer survivors (and their families) need an integrated package of support from their families, doctors and other service providers, hospitals and communities. These findings can inform approaches to continuing care for cancer survivors. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.