Supportive Roles of the Health Care Team Throughout the Illness Trajectory of Bladder Cancer Patients Undergoing Radical Cystectomy: A Qualitative Study Exploring the Patients' Perspectives

Abstract

Objectives: To explore patient perspectives of muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) on how the health care team and their social network can support them during their cancer trajectory.

Data sources: Sixteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with MIBC survivors who underwent radical cystectomies at Ghent University Hospital. The interviews were audiotaped, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed with an iterative content analysis approach.

Conclusion: Information to support people affected by bladder cancer (BC) in several aspects of their disease trajectory (eg, shared decision-making and self-management of their urinary diversion) was most important throughout the interviews (although type and source of required information varied). The clinical nurse specialist was important for informational and emotional support because receiving sufficient information might help patients reduce emotional stress. People affected by BC are still reluctant to consult a psychologist, and several barriers were indicated for this. Also physical needs in the early postoperative phase could be reduced with appropriate information. Communication skills of clinicians in the hospital and knowledge of general practitioners about the important aspects of BC care are also important aspects that should be further optimized. Furthermore, peer support groups and family members can offer important support throughout the BC pathway.

Implications for nursing practice: This study provides an overview of how people affected by BC want to be supported by their health care team and their social network. This overview can serve as a basis to develop educational interventions for both patients and health care professionals to guide restructuring of BC pathways and can also be used to develop future intervention studies to improve BC outcomes.

Keywords: Bladder cancer; Health care team; Information provision; Qualitative study; Radical cystectomy; Supportive care.