The views of healthcare professionals on self-management of patients with advanced cancer: An interview study.

OBJECTIVES

Self-management of patients with advanced cancer is challenging. Although healthcare professionals may play a crucial role in supporting these patients, scant scientific attention has been paid to their perspectives. Therefore, we examined healthcare professionals' views on self-management and self-management support in this population.

METHODS

We conducted qualitative interviews with 27 purposively sampled medical specialists (n = 6), nurse specialists (n = 6), general practitioners (n = 8) and homecare/ hospice nurses (n = 7) in the Netherlands. Transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis.

RESULTS

Healthcare professionals experienced self-management of patients with advanced cancer to be diverse, dynamic and challenging. They adopted instructive, collaborative and advisory roles in self-management support for this population. Whereas some professionals preferred or inclined towards one role, others indicated to switch roles, depending on the situation.

CONCLUSIONS

Just like patients with advanced cancer, healthcare professionals differ in their views and approaches regarding self-management and self-management support in this population. Therefore, instructive, collaborative and advisory self-management support roles will all be useful under certain circumstances.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Healthcare professionals can support self-management by being aware of their own views and communicating these clearly to their patients and colleagues. Education in self-management support should include self-reflection skills and discuss the relation between self-management and professional care.