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CN25 The haemato-oncology patient experience of the process of palliative care: A constructivist grounded theory study

Campbell, K.

Authors



Abstract

Background
Haemato-oncology (HO) patients comprise 8.5% of the overall adult cancers within the UK. Despite advances in treatment, eventually the majority will enter into a palliative care phase. Evidence suggests palliative care is late or non-existent for HO patients, resulting in suboptimal care with many dying in hospital. Various reasons have been cited as affecting integration of palliative care services. However, to-date there has been no studies from the patient’s perspective of the process of palliative care in last year of life.

Methods
Using the design of Constructivist grounded theory, 21 semi-structured patient interviews were conducted from two different NHS trusts between 2016-2017. Constant comparison technique was used to collect and analyse data.

Results
The substantive theory of ‘Suspended and silent status passage: The incurable haemato-oncology illness trajectory’ emerged from the two core categories ‘facing death’ and ‘talking about death’. It describes the length of time, which is suspended, that HO patients face death; where overtime discussions around dying and future care needs are silenced. This is a new conceptualisation that has emerged from haemato-oncology participants experience in the last year of life.

Conclusions
This study reconceptualises the incurable pathway as a ‘Suspended and silent status passage’ with the inevitable outcome of death rather than a possibility of cure. The two core categories ‘facing death’ and ‘talking about death’ describes the length of time, which is suspended, that the patients face death; where overtime discussions around dying and future care needs are silenced. The findings also illustrate that palliative care service provision should be based upon episodic critical episodes of care allowing responsive process of care.

Citation

Campbell, K. (2021). CN25 The haemato-oncology patient experience of the process of palliative care: A constructivist grounded theory study. Annals of Oncology, 32(suppl_5), S1265. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annonc.2021.08.651

Journal Article Type Meeting Abstract
Acceptance Date Jul 12, 2021
Online Publication Date Sep 21, 2021
Publication Date 2021-09
Deposit Date Nov 23, 2022
Journal Annals of Oncology
Print ISSN 0923-7534
Publisher Oxford University Press
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 32
Issue suppl_5
Pages S1265
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annonc.2021.08.651
Public URL http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/2963213
Additional Information Abstract only