Living with and beyond cancer: a qualitative analysis
ISSN: 1443-9883
Article publication date: 20 March 2020
Issue publication date: 9 April 2020
Abstract
Purpose
to provide a bicultural perspective on the views of people who have completed cancer treatment and, of health providers.
Design/methodology/approach
Qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with 29 individuals (people who had recently completed cancer treatment and health providers). General inductive analysis was undertaken with all interview data, and a Kaupapa Māori approach was employed with the data from Māori participants.
Findings
Themes for Māori participants are as follows: (1) understanding health information is enhanced by connection and relationship; (2) the “professional” is personal and (3) enduring beyond cancer is “our” responsibility. Themes for non-Māori participants are as follows: (1) from survivorship to living with and beyond cancer; (2) from the hospital to primary care and (3) support for living with and beyond cancer.
Practical implications
Positive relationships, communication and self-determination are important for Māori making the transition from hospital to the community after cancer treatment. Well-coordinated processes and services are vital for supporting transitions from hospital to community for non-Māori living with and beyond cancer.
Originality/value
This research presents the diversity of Māori and non-Māori experiences of living with and beyond cancer, adding to the limited New Zealand literature regarding post-treatment supportive care. This paper is among the first to undertake separate interviews and thematic analyses of Māori and non-Māori experiences, and to report these separately. Determinants of positive survivorship experiences are identified, specifying a central and expanded role for cancer care services.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors wish to acknowledge the interviewees who generously gave their time to take part in the interviews and provided valuable information for this project. The authors also wish to thank the Canterbury District Health Board health professionals who assisted in the recruitment of participants with experience of living with and beyond cancer, as well as fellow colleagues.This research was developed in response to a query from the Canterbury-West Coast division of the Cancer Society with regards to the experiences of cancer survivors, and was subsequently funded by The Society of St George's Hospital. Both Societies were furnished with a report of the research findings but did not participate in study design or implementation. Professor Ann Richardson received support from the Wayne Francis Charitable Trust.
Citation
Reid, K.L., Ahuriri-Driscoll, A.L.M., Mackay, C.R., Barnett, P. and Richardson, A.K. (2020), "Living with and beyond cancer: a qualitative analysis", Qualitative Research Journal, Vol. 20 No. 2, pp. 216-227. https://doi.org/10.1108/QRJ-12-2019-0097
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited