Tata Trusts Cancer Care Program, Mumbai, India.
Tata Trusts Cancer Care Program, Mumbai, India.
J Cancer Policy. 2021 Mar;27:100267. doi: 10.1016/j.jcpo.2020.100267. Epub 2021 Jan 4.
Cancer patients' experience is dependent on the complex interaction between the patient, carer, healthcare practitioners and healthcare system. The aim of the study was to assess the experience of cancer patients in Assam in order to identify potential areas for improvement in delivering high quality cancer care.
A cross sectional patient experience survey was conducted in 400 patients using structured interviews and pre-tested questionnaires that collected patient-reported outcomes including access to cancer care, experience while availing cancer services across the pathway, waiting times, communication and counselling support, out-of-pocket expenditure and advice regarding available insurance schemes and financial support.
The cancer patient's experience of accessing healthcare in Assam is variable with principal challenges being financial constraint and geographical distance to healthcare facilities. Overall, patients' experience during registration, first consultation, pre-treatment and during treatment was good with high satisfaction rates expressed in several of the areas assessed. Areas that were identified for improvement were better explanation of long-term side effects of treatment, enhanced guidance in choosing treatment options and greater support from healthcare professionals to help patients cope with the psychological, emotional and physical aspects of their cancer diagnosis, treatment and recovery.
Understanding cancer patient experiences across their journey is critical to delivering accessible and affordable care. Effective, adaptive and responsive communication remains the anchor of excellent patient-centred care especially in resource constraint settings.
The paper provides an insight into critical areas focusing on diagnosis, treatment, continuum of care and communication during cancer patients' care in India. Healthcare policy needs to focus on developing a robust, holistic, healthcare system in terms of accessibility, affordability and psychosocial care, including counselling and financial support, to ensure better cancer outcomes.
癌症患者的体验取决于患者、照顾者、医疗保健从业者和医疗保健系统之间的复杂相互作用。本研究旨在评估阿萨姆邦癌症患者的体验，以确定在提供高质量癌症护理方面的潜在改进领域。
采用结构访谈和经过预测试的问卷，对 400 名患者进行了横断面患者体验调查，收集了包括获得癌症护理的机会、在整个治疗途径中使用癌症服务的体验、等待时间、沟通和咨询支持、自付支出以及有关可用保险计划和经济支持的建议等患者报告的结果。
阿萨姆邦癌症患者获得医疗保健的体验存在差异，主要挑战是经济限制和距离医疗设施的地理距离。总体而言，患者在注册、首次咨询、治疗前和治疗期间的体验良好，在评估的几个领域表达了高度满意度。确定需要改进的领域是更好地解释治疗的长期副作用，增强在选择治疗方案方面的指导，以及为帮助患者应对癌症诊断、治疗和康复的心理、情感和身体方面提供更多来自医疗保健专业人员的支持。
了解癌症患者在整个治疗过程中的体验对于提供可及和负担得起的护理至关重要。有效的、适应性强的和响应性的沟通仍然是卓越以患者为中心的护理的关键，尤其是在资源有限的环境中。
本文提供了对关键领域的深入了解，重点关注印度癌症患者护理过程中的诊断、治疗、连续护理和沟通。医疗保健政策需要专注于发展一个强大的、全面的医疗保健系统，在可及性、可负担性和社会心理关怀方面，包括咨询和经济支持，以确保更好的癌症结果。
