TY - JOUR
T1 - Empowered or challenged? The dual impact of condition-specific electronic Patient-Reported Outcome Measures in the person-centred care of women with breast cancer
T2 - A qualitative study
AU - Thestrup Hansen, Stine
AU - Jørgensen, Lone
AU - Schmidt, Volker Jürgen
AU - Gebhard Ørsted, Lotte
AU - Piil, Karin
PY - 2024/12
Y1 - 2024/12
N2 - Purpose: This study aimed to investigate patients' experiences with electronic Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (ePROMs) during follow-up consultations with registered nurses and surgeons in breast cancer care. Methods: A qualitative approach was employed, using focused ethnography with participant observations during patient consultations at a Plastic and Breast Surgery outpatient clinic, followed by individual interviews with the patients. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis by Braun and Clarke. The discussion was informed by theory on person-centred practice. Results: A total of 38 participants were included. ePROMs strengthened person-centred practice by nudging patients to reflect on their health, voice their concerns and engage in active dialogue during consultations, particularly regarding body image issues. The relevance and impact of ePROMs were highly dependent on the timing of the patient's treatment trajectory. Patients found that ePROMs were more meaningful and contextually appropriate when completed during late follow-up. This could be because patients faced challenges with ePROMs, including not understanding their purpose, the need for assistance from relatives and instances when ePROMs were not integrated into consultations. Conclusion: ePROMs can empower patients by facilitating meaningful discussions about body image and other concerns during postoperative follow-up consultations. However, their effectiveness relies on clear communication and proper integration into clinical practice. The results add to existing litterature by highlighting the dual impact of ePROMs, as they can enhance patient-centred care but also present challenges when their purpose is unclear. The implications for future practice include the need to develop strategies that engage diverse patient groups in the ePROM process, supporting equal access to follow-up care and addressing health disparities.
AB - Purpose: This study aimed to investigate patients' experiences with electronic Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (ePROMs) during follow-up consultations with registered nurses and surgeons in breast cancer care. Methods: A qualitative approach was employed, using focused ethnography with participant observations during patient consultations at a Plastic and Breast Surgery outpatient clinic, followed by individual interviews with the patients. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis by Braun and Clarke. The discussion was informed by theory on person-centred practice. Results: A total of 38 participants were included. ePROMs strengthened person-centred practice by nudging patients to reflect on their health, voice their concerns and engage in active dialogue during consultations, particularly regarding body image issues. The relevance and impact of ePROMs were highly dependent on the timing of the patient's treatment trajectory. Patients found that ePROMs were more meaningful and contextually appropriate when completed during late follow-up. This could be because patients faced challenges with ePROMs, including not understanding their purpose, the need for assistance from relatives and instances when ePROMs were not integrated into consultations. Conclusion: ePROMs can empower patients by facilitating meaningful discussions about body image and other concerns during postoperative follow-up consultations. However, their effectiveness relies on clear communication and proper integration into clinical practice. The results add to existing litterature by highlighting the dual impact of ePROMs, as they can enhance patient-centred care but also present challenges when their purpose is unclear. The implications for future practice include the need to develop strategies that engage diverse patient groups in the ePROM process, supporting equal access to follow-up care and addressing health disparities.
KW - Body image
KW - Breast cancer
KW - Breast conserving surgery
KW - Ethnography
KW - Follow up study
KW - Inequality
KW - Interview
KW - Mastectomies
KW - Patient outcome assessment
KW - Qualitative research
KW - Body image
KW - Breast cancer
KW - Breast conserving surgery
KW - Ethnography
KW - Follow up study
KW - Inequality
KW - Interview
KW - Mastectomies
KW - Patient outcome assessment
KW - Qualitative research
U2 - 10.1016/j.ejon.2024.102712
DO - 10.1016/j.ejon.2024.102712
M3 - Journal article
AN - SCOPUS:85207584297
SN - 1462-3889
VL - 73
JO - European Journal of Oncology Nursing
JF - European Journal of Oncology Nursing
M1 - 102712
ER -