Psychosocial care and support strategies for improving cancer services at the hospitals in Limpopo Province

Abstract

The prevalence of psychological distress in cancer patients is reported to be above 30%. Yet, the psychosocial needs of cancer patients may be overlooked by health care providers who possibly prioritise medical needs. Physicians may overlook the psychosocial needs of cancer patients due to the high physician-patient ratio and poor patient referral systems, delaying diagnosis and coordination of oncology services. The purpose of this study was to develop psychosocial care and support strategies to improve the cancer services at the hospitals in Limpopo Province. Methods: A qualitative research design which was exploratory, descriptive was used for phase one and the findings formed the basis for strategy development to improve psychosocial care and support services at hospitals in Limpopo Province. The target population were health care professionals who expressed the challenges they experience in rendering the psychosocial care and support needs and cancer patients who described their experiences of psychosocial care needs. Five focus group discussions were conducted at the hospitals and eleven cancer patients where interviews were conducted at the hospitals. Findings: Health care professionals reported shortfalls of human resource in oncology care poor patient administration and support in cancer services, poor co-ordination of cancer care services, concerns relating to conflicting values and norms concerns with disclosure of their diagnosis and observance of maladaptive personality traits affecting mental health-related quality of life. The cancer patients perceived a lack in emotional support, a lack of timeliness of care and co-ordination, and a lack of education on their treatment. Strategies yielded, informed the study that: recruitment of skilled health care professionals, improving and structuring oncology services, decentralizing treatment centers (oncologist out-reach services), patient navigation and cancer survivorship programmes. The draft strategies were verified by panelists of experts and the refined strategies have been drawn following three rounds of e-Delphi and the final strategies have been drawn. The important contribution of the study was outlined, the suggestions for further studies about the patients; maladaptive personality traits affecting mental health-related quality of life. Conclusion: providing psychosocial cancer care to patients and families as part of standard care in reducing distress and psychosocial morbidity associated with cancer and in fostering a better quality of life during and after treatment, increases survival.