Brincat Alison, Tonna Antonella, Vella Bonanno Patricia, Stewart Derek, Weidmann Anita Elaine
School of Pharmacy, Applied Sciences and Public Health, Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, Scotland.
Department of Health Systems Management and Leadership, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Malta, Msida, Malta.
Int J Clin Pharm. 2025 Aug 23. doi: 10.1007/s11096-025-01976-2.
Colorectal cancer and its treatment deeply impact patients' lives. Significant others, often family members, play crucial pre-existing roles in patients' lives and are closely involved in their care. However, there is limited understanding of the patients' treatment journey from the significant others' perspective.
To explore colorectal cancer patients' experiences with antineoplastic agents from the perspective of significant others over 24 weeks.
This involved a longitudinal qualitative study with 16 significant others nominated by patients with colorectal cancer. Two in-depth interviews were conducted: one at start and another after 24 weeks of treatment. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed and thematically analysed by 2 researchers independently.
Five themes were identified: Patients' perceptions and knowledge of the illness and treatment, the healthcare system in relation to the illness and treatment, patients' involvement in treatment decision-making and their experience of medicine-taking, medicine and illness-related impact on patients and others and personal support structures. Significant others observed that patients initially viewed treatment as curative but later perceived as means to extend life-expectancy. While significant others considered that concerns about aesthetics were initially prominent for the patient, fatigue and peripheral neuropathy became most impactful effects. They considered patients' experiences with cancer services to remain overall positive, particularly regarding personalised support from nurse navigators. Significant others noted that early establishment of support network was crucial for fostering resilience throughout the treatment journey.
This study provides insights from significant others highlighting the complex evolution of patients' experiences and importance of establishing a personalised support network early in treatment journey.
结直肠癌及其治疗对患者的生活有着深远影响。重要他人，通常是家庭成员，在患者的生活中扮演着至关重要的预先存在的角色，并密切参与到他们的护理中。然而，从重要他人的角度对患者治疗过程的了解有限。
从重要他人的角度探讨结直肠癌患者在24周内使用抗肿瘤药物的经历。
这是一项纵向定性研究，研究对象为16名由结直肠癌患者提名的重要他人。进行了两次深入访谈：一次在开始时，另一次在治疗24周后。访谈进行了录音、转录，并由两名研究人员独立进行主题分析。
确定了五个主题：患者对疾病和治疗的认知与了解、与疾病和治疗相关的医疗保健系统、患者参与治疗决策及其服药经历、药物和疾病对患者及他人的影响以及个人支持结构。重要他人观察到，患者最初将治疗视为治愈手段，但后来将其视为延长预期寿命的方式。虽然重要他人认为患者最初对美观的担忧较为突出，但疲劳和周围神经病变成为最具影响的效应。他们认为患者对癌症服务的体验总体上仍然是积极的，特别是关于护士导航员提供的个性化支持。重要他人指出，早期建立支持网络对于在整个治疗过程中培养恢复力至关重要。
本研究提供了重要他人的见解，突出了患者体验的复杂演变以及在治疗过程早期建立个性化支持网络的重要性。
