Universidad San Jorge, Campus Universitario, Autov A23 Km 299, 50830, Zaragoza, Villanueva de Gállego, Spain.
REFiT Aging Research Group, Parc Sanitari Pere Virgili and Vall d'Hebron Institute of Research (VHIR), Carrer d'esteve Terradas, 30 Gracia 08023, Barcelona, Spain.
Support Care Cancer. 2024 Aug 19;32(9):594. doi: 10.1007/s00520-024-08782-y.
This study explores whether the full potential of physiotherapy is reaching cancer patients and their caregivers at all stages of the oncological process, aiming to identify gaps and opportunities for improving care.
The World Cafe co-design methodology facilitated discussions among cancer patients and caregivers. This dynamic, inclusive, and engaging approach fostered diverse perspectives and deeper insights through collaborative and flexible discussions. Sessions were recorded, transcribed, and qualitatively analyzed.
Sixteen participants were involved (eight cancer survivors and eight caregivers). The mean age of cancer survivors was 63.8 years, while the average age of caregivers was 59.3 years. Breast cancer was the most prevalent diagnosis among patients, and most caregivers had lost their family members to cancer. Analysis revealed two primary themes: "feeling cared for" and "the role of physiotherapy in the oncological process." Key findings highlight the need for more humanized healthcare, with professionals providing support through effective communication and empathy. Significant gaps were detected in both systematic referrals to physiotherapists and their integration into care teams. Testimonies highlighted the lack of knowledge about the full potential of physiotherapy in oncology, hindering access. There was also a demand for recognizing specialized oncological physiotherapists.
These findings highlight significant gaps in physiotherapy care for cancer survivors and caregivers, including unmet needs due to the lack of information, resources, and effective communication. Future efforts should focus on increasing the visibility of physiotherapy, integrating specialized physiotherapists into oncology teams, and enhancing the emotional education of healthcare professionals to provide more humanized care.
本研究旨在探讨物理治疗是否在肿瘤患者及其照护者的各个阶段都能发挥其全部潜力，旨在发现改善护理的差距和机会。
采用世界咖啡屋共创设计方法，让癌症患者及其照护者进行讨论。这种动态、包容和引人入胜的方法通过协作和灵活的讨论促进了不同观点和更深入的见解。会议进行了记录、转录和定性分析。
共有 16 名参与者（8 名癌症幸存者和 8 名照护者）。癌症幸存者的平均年龄为 63.8 岁，而照护者的平均年龄为 59.3 岁。患者中最常见的诊断是乳腺癌，大多数照护者的亲人因癌症去世。分析揭示了两个主要主题：“被关怀的感觉”和“物理治疗在肿瘤过程中的作用”。主要发现强调需要更加人性化的医疗保健，专业人员通过有效的沟通和同理心提供支持。在向物理治疗师进行系统转诊以及将其纳入护理团队方面都发现了重大差距。证词突出表明，人们对肿瘤学中物理治疗的全部潜力缺乏了解，这阻碍了其获得途径。人们还呼吁认识专门的肿瘤物理治疗师。
这些发现强调了癌症幸存者及其照护者在物理治疗方面存在显著差距，包括由于信息、资源和有效沟通的缺乏而导致的未满足需求。未来的努力应重点提高物理治疗的可见度，将专门的物理治疗师纳入肿瘤学团队，并加强医疗保健专业人员的情感教育，以提供更人性化的护理。
