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Expectations and needs of gynecological cancer survivors at the end of primary cancer treatment: A convergent mixed methods study
Abstract
Purpose: Gynecological cancer (GC) survivors desire holistic, person-centred, supportive care interventions to address their unmet needs after treatment. The development of such interventions requires an understanding of both the expectations and needs of GC survivors. The purpose of this study was to understand GC survivors’ expectations and needs for post treatment, and to consider how their expectations and needs converge and diverge to inform care.
Methods: A convergent mixed-methods design (QUAL+quant) was used. Qualitative data were collected via 1:1 telephone interviews. Quantitative data were collected using the Cancer Survivors’ Unmet Needs measure.
Results: Twenty-four individuals participated. Survivors’ expectations for interventions after treatment included the implementation and outcomes of interventions and were grouped into two themes: Wrestling the unknown and Trusted information strengthens capacity. The most common unmet needs were related to existential survivorship. However, mixed-methods analysis revealed participants primarily expected to have their informational needs met in post-treatment interventions.
Conclusions: Study findings illuminate GC survivors’ expectations and needs after treatment, and the importance of analyzing both when planning and providing care. Clinicians may use these findings to develop and refine interventions to address unmet needs of GC survivors.
DOI: 10.5737/23688076344490
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