The experiences of colorectal cancer patients: a longitudinal perspective

Browne, Susan (2013) The experiences of colorectal cancer patients: a longitudinal perspective. PhD thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

Background:
Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in the UK for both men and women. Survival rates are improving and more than half of those diagnosed will survive for more than five years. The configuration of care for colorectal cancer patients is likely to shift in line with survivorship strategies which favour self care, a personalised approach, a holistic perspective, and a reduction in specialist care.
Aim:
The overall aim of the study is to explore the physical, social and psychological impact of colorectal cancer at diagnosis and one year post diagnosis, with a particular focus on the impact of health care professionals on patients’ experience.
Methods:
In-depth interviews with 24 participants with a new diagnosis of colorectal cancer, and then follow-up interviews with 19 of the 24 twelve months later.
Findings:
This physical illness can largely be understood as an experience of uncertainty. Uncertainty as a reaction to colorectal cancer is associated with lower quality of life and the findings here demonstrate that uncertainty proves profoundly unsettling (in spite of efforts to interpret the experience positively). Current health care provision does not reflect this yet there is clear scope for mitigating the experience of uncertainty.
Conclusion:
Primary care is well placed to play a central role in the care of colorectal cancer patients and has the capacity to mitigate aspects of uncertainty that characterise the experience.

• Item Type: Thesis (PhD)
• Qualification Level: Doctoral
• Keywords: colorectal cancer, qualitative, primary care, uncertainty
• Subjects: R Medicine > R Medicine (General); R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC0254 Neoplasms. Tumors. Oncology (including Cancer)
• Colleges/Schools: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > General Practice and Primary Care
• Supervisor's Name: Macleod, Prof. Una and Watt, Prof. Graham
• Date of Award: 2013
• Depositing User: Dr Susan Browne
• Unique ID: glathesis:2013-4684
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 08 Nov 2013 09:06
• Last Modified: 07 Jan 2014 14:09
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/4684