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. 2021 Dec;16(1):1915737.
doi: 10.1080/17482631.2021.1915737.

Development of cancer support services for patients and their close ones from the Cancer Society of Finland's perspective

Heli Tiirola  1 , Veli-Matti Poutanen  1 , Riitta Vornanen  1 , Liisa Pylkkänen  2
Affiliations

Development of cancer support services for patients and their close ones from the Cancer Society of Finland's perspective

Heli Tiirola et al. Int J Qual Stud Health Well-being. 2021 Dec.

Abstract

Purpose: This study examined what support cancer patients and their close ones need and how this support should be organized when developing cancer care pathways. The study focused on the opinions of professionals of the Cancer Society of Finland (CSF), who play a central role in presenting the third sector's perspective on care pathways.Method: Six semi-structured group interviews were carried out with counselling nurses (n = 12) and managers (n = 9) of the CSF during summer 2017. The results were analysed using content analysis.Results: Both patients and their close ones need more information, psychosocial support and financial counselling after diagnosis, during rehabilitation and follow-up, at relapse and during the palliative care phase; additionally, close ones require support after the patient's death. Participants emphasized close collaboration between public healthcare and the CSF to meet the needs of patients and their close ones.Conclusion: Psychosocial support can-and should-be provided as part of the care pathway. This support can be provided by organizations in the third sector, such as the CSF, which have resources in this area.

Keywords: Cancer; Cancer Society of Finland; care pathway; counselling; support.

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Conflict of interest statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Participants’ perspective on the care pathway, their evaluation of support needs and the role of the CSF
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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