Palliative care patients' perceptions of the work involved in understanding and managing the network of care provision surrounding them

Objective: To explore the work carried out for cancer palliative care patients in understanding and dealing with the often large network of care provision surrounding them. Method: Qualitative thematic analysis of interviews with 24 patients (aged 48–85 years) with 15 different types/sites of ca...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Jarrett, Nikki, Porter, K., Davis, C., Lathlean, J., Duke, S., Corner, Jessica, Addington-Hall, J.
Format: Article
Published: BMJ Publishing Group 2015
Subjects:
Online Access:https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/32440/
_version_ 1848794406906232832
author Jarrett, Nikki
Porter, K.
Davis, C.
Lathlean, J.
Duke, S.
Corner, Jessica
Addington-Hall, J.
author_facet Jarrett, Nikki
Porter, K.
Davis, C.
Lathlean, J.
Duke, S.
Corner, Jessica
Addington-Hall, J.
author_sort Jarrett, Nikki
building Nottingham Research Data Repository
collection Online Access
description Objective: To explore the work carried out for cancer palliative care patients in understanding and dealing with the often large network of care provision surrounding them. Method: Qualitative thematic analysis of interviews with 24 patients (aged 48–85 years) with 15 different types/sites of cancer and palliative care needs. Results: The main theme of ‘patient work—their strategies and project management’ is presented. Subthemes included: being organised and keeping records; planning ahead and coordinating care; information gathering; understanding the hierarchy and knowing who the key people are; strategies to remember names and roles; understanding and ‘working the system’. Insights are given into the work carried out on patients’ behalf by family, although it was unclear who would do this work if no family was available. Some of the challenges faced by patients and families are identified. These included limited information; uncertainty when care is transferred between different teams or locations; deciding who to contact and how; and negotiating through gatekeepers. Conclusions: The number and variety of people contributing to the care of a cancer palliative care patient can be difficult for patients and family to comprehend. Work is required by patients or family on their behalf to achieve the level of understanding required to become accomplished at navigating the system and project managing their care organisation, and is probably influenced by role expectations and previous experience. Much of this additional, often hidden, workload for patients and family could probably be reduced with clear, timely information provision by health professionals.
first_indexed 2025-11-14T19:15:42Z
format Article
id nottingham-32440
institution University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus
institution_category Local University
last_indexed 2025-11-14T19:15:42Z
publishDate 2015
publisher BMJ Publishing Group
recordtype eprints
repository_type Digital Repository
spelling nottingham-324402020-05-04T17:03:39Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/32440/ Palliative care patients' perceptions of the work involved in understanding and managing the network of care provision surrounding them Jarrett, Nikki Porter, K. Davis, C. Lathlean, J. Duke, S. Corner, Jessica Addington-Hall, J. RA 421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine Objective: To explore the work carried out for cancer palliative care patients in understanding and dealing with the often large network of care provision surrounding them. Method: Qualitative thematic analysis of interviews with 24 patients (aged 48–85 years) with 15 different types/sites of cancer and palliative care needs. Results: The main theme of ‘patient work—their strategies and project management’ is presented. Subthemes included: being organised and keeping records; planning ahead and coordinating care; information gathering; understanding the hierarchy and knowing who the key people are; strategies to remember names and roles; understanding and ‘working the system’. Insights are given into the work carried out on patients’ behalf by family, although it was unclear who would do this work if no family was available. Some of the challenges faced by patients and families are identified. These included limited information; uncertainty when care is transferred between different teams or locations; deciding who to contact and how; and negotiating through gatekeepers. Conclusions: The number and variety of people contributing to the care of a cancer palliative care patient can be difficult for patients and family to comprehend. Work is required by patients or family on their behalf to achieve the level of understanding required to become accomplished at navigating the system and project managing their care organisation, and is probably influenced by role expectations and previous experience. Much of this additional, often hidden, workload for patients and family could probably be reduced with clear, timely information provision by health professionals. BMJ Publishing Group 2015-03-31 Article PeerReviewed Jarrett, Nikki, Porter, K., Davis, C., Lathlean, J., Duke, S., Corner, Jessica and Addington-Hall, J. (2015) Palliative care patients' perceptions of the work involved in understanding and managing the network of care provision surrounding them. BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care . ISSN 2045-4368 http://spcare.bmj.com/content/early/2015/03/31/bmjspcare-2014-000781 doi:10.1136/bmjspcare-2014-000781 doi:10.1136/bmjspcare-2014-000781
spellingShingle RA 421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine
Jarrett, Nikki
Porter, K.
Davis, C.
Lathlean, J.
Duke, S.
Corner, Jessica
Addington-Hall, J.
Palliative care patients' perceptions of the work involved in understanding and managing the network of care provision surrounding them
title Palliative care patients' perceptions of the work involved in understanding and managing the network of care provision surrounding them
title_full Palliative care patients' perceptions of the work involved in understanding and managing the network of care provision surrounding them
title_fullStr Palliative care patients' perceptions of the work involved in understanding and managing the network of care provision surrounding them
title_full_unstemmed Palliative care patients' perceptions of the work involved in understanding and managing the network of care provision surrounding them
title_short Palliative care patients' perceptions of the work involved in understanding and managing the network of care provision surrounding them
title_sort palliative care patients' perceptions of the work involved in understanding and managing the network of care provision surrounding them
topic RA 421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine
url https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/32440/
https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/32440/
https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/32440/