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Palliative care patients' perceptions of the work involved in understanding and managing the network of care provision surrounding them

Palliative care patients' perceptions of the work involved in understanding and managing the network of care provision surrounding them
Palliative care patients' perceptions of the work involved in understanding and managing the network of care provision surrounding them
Objective To explore the work carried out for cancer palliative care patients in understanding and dealing with the often large network of care provision surrounding them.

Method Qualitative thematic analysis of interviews with 24 patients (aged 48–85?years) with 15 different types/sites of cancer and palliative care needs.

Results The main theme of ‘patient work—their strategies and project management’ is presented. Subthemes included: being organised and keeping records; planning ahead and coordinating care; information gathering; understanding the hierarchy and knowing who the key people are; strategies to remember names and roles; understanding and ‘working the system’. Insights are given into the work carried out on patients’ behalf by family, although it was unclear who would do this work if no family was available. Some of the challenges faced by patients and families are identified. These included limited information; uncertainty when care is transferred between different teams or locations; deciding who to contact and how; and negotiating through gatekeepers.


Conclusions The number and variety of people contributing to the care of a cancer palliative care patient can be difficult for patients and family to comprehend. Work is required by patients or family on their behalf to achieve the level of understanding required to become accomplished at navigating the system and project managing their care organisation, and is probably influenced by role expectations and previous experience. Much of this additional, often hidden, workload for patients and family could probably be reduced with clear, timely information provision by health professionals.
Jarrett, N.
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Porter, K.
461d2468-38d4-4d20-ae03-ddc0d62ca834
Davis, C.
b98148c3-cb02-4943-91a4-7ae0a23c681e
Lathlean, J.
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Duke, S.
f0dc024d-f940-4f43-b5f9-adab34833ce7
Corner, J.
eddc9d69-aa12-4de5-8ab0-b20a6b5765fa
Addington-Hall, J.
87560cc4-7562-4f9b-b908-81f3b603fdd8
Jarrett, N.
2127f54c-9a95-4b04-a7f4-c1da8b21b378
Porter, K.
461d2468-38d4-4d20-ae03-ddc0d62ca834
Davis, C.
b98148c3-cb02-4943-91a4-7ae0a23c681e
Lathlean, J.
98a74375-c265-47d2-b75b-5f0f3e14c1a9
Duke, S.
f0dc024d-f940-4f43-b5f9-adab34833ce7
Corner, J.
eddc9d69-aa12-4de5-8ab0-b20a6b5765fa
Addington-Hall, J.
87560cc4-7562-4f9b-b908-81f3b603fdd8

Jarrett, N., Porter, K., Davis, C., Lathlean, J., Duke, S., Corner, J. and Addington-Hall, J. (2015) Palliative care patients' perceptions of the work involved in understanding and managing the network of care provision surrounding them. BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care. (doi:10.1136/bmjspcare-2014-000781).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Objective To explore the work carried out for cancer palliative care patients in understanding and dealing with the often large network of care provision surrounding them.

Method Qualitative thematic analysis of interviews with 24 patients (aged 48–85?years) with 15 different types/sites of cancer and palliative care needs.

Results The main theme of ‘patient work—their strategies and project management’ is presented. Subthemes included: being organised and keeping records; planning ahead and coordinating care; information gathering; understanding the hierarchy and knowing who the key people are; strategies to remember names and roles; understanding and ‘working the system’. Insights are given into the work carried out on patients’ behalf by family, although it was unclear who would do this work if no family was available. Some of the challenges faced by patients and families are identified. These included limited information; uncertainty when care is transferred between different teams or locations; deciding who to contact and how; and negotiating through gatekeepers.


Conclusions The number and variety of people contributing to the care of a cancer palliative care patient can be difficult for patients and family to comprehend. Work is required by patients or family on their behalf to achieve the level of understanding required to become accomplished at navigating the system and project managing their care organisation, and is probably influenced by role expectations and previous experience. Much of this additional, often hidden, workload for patients and family could probably be reduced with clear, timely information provision by health professionals.

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Accepted/In Press date: 11 March 2015
e-pub ahead of print date: 31 March 2015
Organisations: Faculty of Health Sciences

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 380560
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/380560
PURE UUID: 452f160b-fcc7-4581-89ca-4431b53464e9
ORCID for N. Jarrett: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-2513-8113
ORCID for S. Duke: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-4058-8086

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Date deposited: 10 Sep 2015 13:50
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 21:01

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Contributors

Author: N. Jarrett ORCID iD
Author: K. Porter
Author: C. Davis
Author: J. Lathlean
Author: S. Duke ORCID iD
Author: J. Corner

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