Unexpressed psychosocial needs in cancer patients at the beginning of inpatient rehabilitation: a qualitative analysis

Abstract

Objective

Cancer patients often need professional help to alleviate their psychosocial distress. However, not all patients express their needs. In this study, we explored possible barriers to patients’ expressing needs, contents of needs difficult to express, and conditions facilitating expressing needs.

Methods

We conducted semi-structured interviews with 29 oncological inpatient rehabilitation patients, 7 members of self-help groups, and 10 health professionals. We analyzed data with structuring content analysis.

Results

Fear of stigmatization and difficulties in the physician-patient-relationship were the most critical expression barriers reported. Sexuality deemed to be one of the most challenging themes for patients. Changes in the physician’s behavior and sufficient resources were mentioned as the main facilitating conditions. Our results indicate a wide diversity within the barriers and topics, but a general consistency between patients and health professionals.

Conclusion

This study provides evidence for the existence of a variety of barriers to cancer patients’ expressing their needs.

Practice Implications

Health professionals should be aware of the different possible expression barriers to facilitate patient communication.

Keywords:

• admission interview
• cancer
• expression barriers
• inpatient rehabilitation
• psychosocial needs
• physician-patient-communication
• qualitative research methods

Acknowledgments

We thank Nicola Brentzke for assistance with patient enrolment.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare to have no financial relationship with the funding organization.

Data availability statement

The authors have full control of all primary data. Data are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Informed consent and patient details

All personal identifiers have been removed or disguised so the persons described are not identifiable and cannot be identified through the details of the story.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the German Cancer Aid under Grant number 70113223.