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Multidisciplinary healthcare providers' experience of working in an inpatient cancer rehabilitation unit in Sydney, Australia
Author(s) -
Reynolds Najwa L.,
Cole Andrew M.,
Walmsley Bruce D.,
Poulos Christopher J.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
european journal of cancer care
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.849
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1365-2354
pISSN - 0961-5423
DOI - 10.1111/ecc.13162
Subject(s) - medicine , multidisciplinary approach , rehabilitation , unit (ring theory) , health care , nursing , medical emergency , physical therapy , social science , sociology , economic growth , economics , mathematics education , mathematics
Objective Scant research explores health professionals' experiences of providing inpatient cancer rehabilitation services, either from the negative or positive perspectives. Method This report explores the lived experiences of 14 multidisciplinary health professionals providing cancer rehabilitation services within an inpatient setting. Their interpretations provide a distinctive evaluation of an inpatient, cancer rehabilitation service, both negative and positive, and the impacts of their experiences on them and their patients. Data from semi‐structured focus groups and interviews were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA: Psychology and Health, 11, 1996, 261–271) to produce thematic results. Results Health professionals' focus groups and interviews produced one superordinate theme: Therapeutic community . Subordinate themes were Healing and Hope, Limited by the System, Moral Integrity and Growth, with further subthemes; Invalidation, Moral dilemmas, Gratitude and Humility . Positive views of the specialist service were tempered with issues associated with finite resources and staff feeling unsupported in their person‐centred approach. Although rehabilitation was the primary focus of the unit, metastatic cancer may behave unpredictably; symptom recurrences meant that a dialogue of accepting palliative care and dying as a phase of life was also an important factor raised by some patients and families in our setting. Referral to palliative specialists for this dialogue was incorporated in the context of the rehabilitation care provided. Conclusion Study participants provided a unique window, encompassing both negative and positive perspectives, to understanding their deep commitment to quality of care, despite resource limitations. Professionals in this inpatient team worked to provide optimal multidisciplinary services relevant to each individual's need to move towards strength and independence.