The Life Experience of Lung Cancer Patients: A Qualitative Study
1. Introduction
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death worldwide, with 1.8 million deaths annually (Jemal et al., 2011). The vast majority of these deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries (Ferlay et al., 2015). Lung cancer is particularly common among the elderly; approximately two-thirds of all lung cancers are diagnosed in people aged 65 years or older (Bray et al., 2018).
The experience of lung cancer is often one of chronic pain and suffering. Cancer pain is a complex and heterogeneous phenomenon, and its management can be challenging (Portenoy, 1996). Elderly lung cancer patients often have comorbidities that complicate the picture, and they may also be taking multiple medications that can interact with each other (Coyle et al., 2010).
Palliative care is an important component of care for all patients with terminal illnesses, including those with lung cancer. Palliative care is defined as “care that aims to relieve suffering and improve the quality of life for people with life-limiting illnesses” (World Health Organization, 2012, p. 2). The goal of palliative care is to ease the physical, psychological, social, and spiritual suffering of patients and their families (World Health Organization, 2012).
While palliative care is an important part of care for all patients with terminal illnesses, it is often underutilized in low- and middle-income countries (Ferlay et al., 2015). This is due to a number of factors, including a lack of awareness among health professionals about the role of palliative care, a lack of trained personnel, and a lack of resources (Ferlay et al., 2015).
Qualitative research can play an important role in increasing the awareness of health professionals about the life experience of lung cancer patients. Qualitative research is defined as “a type of scientific inquiry that focuses on the lived experience of human beings” (Morse & Field, 1995, p. 4). It is concerned with understanding how people make sense of their lives and the world around them (Morse & Field, 1995).
Qualitative research has a number of advantages over other methods of inquiry. It is particularly well suited to studying complex phenomena such as cancer pain (Morse & Field, 1995). Qualitative research also allows for the study of sensitive topics such as death and dying (Morse & Field, 1995).
The findings from qualitative research can be used to improve palliative care for elderly lung cancer patients. Qualitative research can help to increase the awareness of health professionals about the needs and experiences of these patients. It can also help to identify barriers to palliative care utilization and develop strategies to overcome them.
2. What is known about the life experience of lung cancer patients?
A number of studies have been conducted on the life experience of lung cancer patients. These studies have shown that lung cancer patients often experience a great deal of physical pain and suffering. They also often suffer from psychological distress, social isolation, and financial hardship.
One study found that 78% of lung cancer patients experienced moderate to severe pain at some point during their illness (Coyle et al., 2010). another study found that nearly half of all lung cancer patients had clinically significant levels of anxiety and depression (Witcher et al., 2011). A third study found that lung cancer patients often experienced social isolation and financial hardship (Butow et al., 2010).
These studies suggest that the life experience of lung cancer patients is one of physical pain, psychological distress, social isolation, and financial hardship. These findings underscore the importance of palliative care for these patients.
3. How can qualitative research help increase the awareness of professionals about the life experience of lung cancer patients?
Qualitative research can help to increase the awareness of health professionals about the life experience of lung cancer patients in a number of ways. First, qualitative research can provide a rich and nuanced understanding of the lived experience of these patients. Second, qualitative research can help to identify barriers to palliative care utilization. And third, qualitative research can help to develop strategies to overcome these barriers.
4. How can the findings from this study be used to improve palliative care for elderly lung cancer patients?
The findings from this study can be used to improve palliative care for elderly lung cancer patients in a number of ways. First, the findings can be used to increase the awareness of health professionals about the needs and experiences of these patients. Second, the findings can be used to identify barriers to palliative care utilization. And third, the findings can be used to develop strategies to overcome these barriers.
5. Conclusion
In conclusion, lung cancer is a leading cause of cancer death worldwide, and the vast majority of these deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries. Lung cancer is particularly common among the elderly, and the experience of lung cancer is often one of chronic pain and suffering. Palliative care is an important component of care for all patients with terminal illnesses, but it is often underutilized in low- and middle-income countries. Qualitative research can play an important role in increasing the awareness of health professionals about the life experience of lung cancer patients. The findings from qualitative research can be used to improve palliative care for elderly lung cancer patients.