Abstract:
Cancer is one of the main causes of death on a global scale. The diagnosis of cancer can be a devastating experience. Patients engage on a journey through a disease trajectory that is also known as the cancer care continuum. During this time, there is a variety of emotions and feelings experienced. Distress is an identifiable experience that has an impact of the patient as they move through the cancer care continuum. There is much known about the cancer care continuum however there appears to be the absence of a New Zealand perspective. Aim The aim of this study is to explore the perceptions and understand patient’s experience of psychosocial distress when having had chemotherapy treatment in a rural setting. Methods Using a qualitative descriptive methodology, semi-structured interviews were conducted with patients that had chemotherapy treatment in Thames Hospital (n=11). Interviews dealt with their perceptions and experiences of psychosocial distress while having had chemotherapy in a rural treatment centre. A thematic analysis was conducted on the text, and the themes were established. Findings Three main themes of trigger points; support and travel, arose in the findings of the study. Under the theme of support were the subthemes of information, hospital, home and community. The findings tend to cross over and interlink at many points within the discussion. Trigger points along the cancer care continuum impacting on the patient journey were prominent features within the study. Findings also identified the perception of participants that it was the spouse/significant other that were also affected by psychosocial distress. Both formal and informal means of support were identified. Formal support included support and information in the hospital and community; and informal support was provided in the home. Such support was seen throughout the cancer care continuum. The findings also identified the implications of travel for participants that reside in a rural location. Conclusion This research illustrates the cancer care continuum and the trigger points of distress that occur along it. Patients and their families are affected by the distress in a number of ways. The need for support both formally and informally is an important aspect of the journey. A review of the literature and the findings of the study have enabled the development of a new model of care with implications for care along the cancer care continuum.