Cancer patients treated with intravenous chemotherapy for the first time. What are their needs? What do they lack? A qualitative–quantitative mixed approach

• Main Authors: Garcia MA, Kalecinski J, Oriol M, Bonne A, Lofti M, Espenel S, Tinquaut F, Fournel P, Collard O, Vassal C, Rivoirard R, Regnier V, Chauvin F, Bourmaud A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dove Medical Press 2018-09-01
• Series: Patient Preference and Adherence
• Subjects: assessment of needs; patients’ needs; cancer; patient education; mixed qualitative-quantitative method; psychosocial needs
• Online Access: https://www.dovepress.com/cancer-patients-treated-with-intravenous-chemotherapy-for-the-first-ti-peer-reviewed-article-PPA

Max-Adrien Garcia,1 Julie Kalecinski,1 Mathieu Oriol,1,2 Armand Bonne,1 Mohamed Lofti,1 Sophie Espenel,3 Fabien Tinquaut,1 Pierre Fournel,4 Olivier Collard,4 Cécile Vassal,4 Romain Rivoirard,4 Véronique Regnier,1,5 Franck Chauvin,1,2,5 Aurélie Bourmaud1,5 1Hygee Center, Lucien Neuwirth Cancer Institut, INSERM – CIC-EC, CIC 1408, Saint Priest en Jarez, France; 2Jean Monnet University, Saint Etienne, France; 3Radiotherapy Department, Lucien Neuwirth Cancer Institut, Saint Priest en Jarez, France; 4Medical Oncology Department, Lucien Neuwirth Cancer Institut, Saint Priest en Jarez, France; 5Quality Safety Performance in Health (HESPER) EA7425, Lyon 1 University, Lyon, France Introduction: The announcement of cancer coupled with initiation of its treatment impacts patients’ psychological and physical states as well as their lifestyles. The objective of this study was to identify and confirm the needs of patients starting off on anticancer chemotherapy treatment. Methods: This study was based on a qualitative–quantitative mixed method. In 2009, a qualitative study was conducted at the Lucien Neuwirth Cancer Institut for cancer patients undergoing intravenous chemotherapy for the first time. Exploratory and semi-directed interviews were carried out by a sociologist. In 2014, a questionnaire was hetero-administered to 100 patients starting off on chemotherapy. Results: Forty patients were interviewed in 2009. Ninety-seven patients answered the questionnaire in 2014. Food was a theme that was identified by a majority of patients in 2009 (13/40) and confirmed in 2014: 63% needed help in identifying favorable food and 67% in identifying those that had to be avoided. The other needs identified were those linked to better understanding of the treatment, of how it may affect the couple, its side effects, hygiene and beauty, and knowledge about other treatments. These needs were confirmed in 2014. New needs were elicited in 2014: activities and leisure (33%), psychological needs (32.6%), and family relations (29.9%). Conclusion: This study enabled us to identify, confirm, and enrich our knowledge of the needs of cancer patients starting off on intravenous chemotherapy. These results led to the modification of an existing patient education program for these patients, in order to fulfill their needs in an updated and tailored manner. Keywords: assessment of needs, patients’ needs, cancer, patient education, mixed qualitative–quantitative method, psychosocial needs