An Ovarian Cancer Diagnosis-Seeking Process: Unraveling the Diagnostic Delay Problem

Koldjeski, Dixie; Kirkpatrick, Mary K.; Swanson, Melvin; Everett, Lou; Brown, Sylvia T.

doi:10.1188/05.onf.1036-1042

Cited by 15 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…20,24 In contrast, individuals may postpone their decision of disclosing if they interpret their symptoms as not important or serious or were uncertain over whether symptoms required medical attention. 25,26 The participants were prompted to disclose their symptoms when the symptoms progressed to interruption of their daily activities. 26…”

Section: Symptom Interpretationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Family and significant others may influence the person's decision by offering advice, lay diagnosis, or recommendations about taking action or not. 25,32 Some studies found that participants who had not initially discussed the symptom with others or had ignored other people's advice postponed the decision to disclose to a healthcare provider for a longer period than patients who had talked with others about symptom. 32,33 In contrast, another study found that there was no difference in time to disclosure for women who had talked to someone about their symptoms and those who had not talked to someone about their symptoms before seeing a healthcare provider.…”

Section: Taking Actionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Concept Analysis of Symptom Disclosure in the Context of Cancer

Sun

2008

Advances in Nursing Science

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Although symptoms suggestive of cancer are the most common reason that people seek healthcare, the process undertaken to disclose the symptoms is unclear. The purpose of this article is to critically analyze the concept of symptom disclosure in the context of cancer. Rodgers' evolutionary approach was applied to analyze the concept of symptom disclosure. Concept analysis indicates that symptom disclosure is a decision-making process in which a person chooses to tell significant others and a healthcare provider about self-identified symptoms. Characteristics of the concept include symptom interpretation, weighing the risks and benefits of disclosure, and taking action. Influencing factors are knowledge, cancer risk perception, personal or family history of cancer, socioeconomic and cultural factors, and access to care. The concept analysis of symptom disclosure provides guidance for developing strategies to promote healthcare-seeking behavior in practice and suggest areas for future research.

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Section: Symptom Interpretationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Taking Actionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Concept Analysis of Symptom Disclosure in the Context of Cancer

Sun

2008

Advances in Nursing Science

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“…Koldjeski et al (2005) reviewed the literature to propose a conceptualization of why diagnostic delays occur with ovarian cancer. Three phases of diagnosis seeking were identified and include the self-care phase, the primary provider care phase, and the specialist care phase.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Ovarian Cancer Symptom Index (Fields & Chevlen, 2006;Goff et al, 2004Goff et al, , 2007Koldjeski, Kirkpatrick, Swanson, Everett, & Brown, 2005;O'Rourke & Mahon, 2003;Tiffen & Mahon, 2005). Because WWK is the guiding framework for the study, the key words, ovarian cancer and women's ways of knowing and ovarian cancer and intuition were used to guide the literature search.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Whisperings of Ovarian Cancer: Acknowledging Women's Voices

Smith

2008

Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing

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Ovarian cancer is described as being a whisper because it is challenging to diagnose at an early stage. Women need the voice to respond to the whisperings and nurses need to listen and acknowledge these voices. The purpose of this descriptive qualitative study is to examine personal stories of ovarian cancer within the framework of Women's Ways of Knowing (WWK) to understand how women voice their "whisperings of ovarian cancer" and their interactions with healthcare providers. The importance of listening and acknowledging a woman's voice is illustrated by the five categories of knowing delineated by WWK. The categories of knowing are silence, received knowledge, subjective knowledge, procedural knowledge, and constructed knowledge. Listening for a woman's voice, acknowledging her voice, and being an advocate for her voice are key components of holistic care. Listening may play an instrumental role in the early diagnosis of ovarian cancer.

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Fear of cancer recurrence in ovarian cancer caregivers: A qualitative study

Webb,

Sharpe,

Russell

et al. 2023

Psycho-Oncology

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AimAlthough there is growing research exploring survivor fear of cancer recurrence (FCR), little is known about caregiver FCR. To date, examination of caregiver FCR has largely been conducted through the lens of survivor conceptualisations, limiting the development of caregiver‐specific models, measures, and interventions. This study aimed to explore experiences of FCR among caregivers of people with ovarian cancer.MethodsSemi‐structured telephone interviews were conducted with caregivers of people with ovarian cancer. Participants, recruited through Ovarian Cancer Australia, also completed an online survey collecting participant and patient demographic characteristics, information about the survivor's disease and caregiver levels of FCR using the Fear of Cancer Recurrence Inventory (Caregiver) (FCRI‐c). Qualitative interviews explored caregiver fears, how fears and concerns were experienced and the frequency and timing of FCR. Thematic analysis using a Framework Approach was used to analyse the results.ResultsTwenty‐four caregivers (54% male) participated in an interview. Most caregivers were providing care for their partner (n = 14). Thematic analysis identified four inter‐related themes and associated sub‐themes: (1) Fear and uncertainty; (2) Liminality; (3) Hopelessness and (4) Caregiver's protection of the person and self (caregiver's role as protector). Underpinning these themes was an overarching fear of one's family member dying.ConclusionsCaregivers supporting people with ovarian cancer experience worries and concerns related to cancer recurrence or progression. These experiences are conceptually different to survivor experiences. Fear of one's family member dying, and the dual nature of caregiver protection/self‐protection mean it is imperative that interventions are tailored specifically to caregiver needs. Future research facilitating the development of appropriate measures and interventions is essential to reduce caregiver FCR.

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An Ovarian Cancer Diagnosis-Seeking Process: Unraveling the Diagnostic Delay Problem

Abstract: Women must be taught to self-monitor for early ovarian cancer symptoms. Primary care providers should be urged to attend frequent state-of-the-science updates that regard early symptoms as manifestations of ovarian cancer.

Cited by 15 publications

References 40 publications

Concept Analysis of Symptom Disclosure in the Context of Cancer

Concept Analysis of Symptom Disclosure in the Context of Cancer

Whisperings of Ovarian Cancer: Acknowledging Women's Voices

Fear of cancer recurrence in ovarian cancer caregivers: A qualitative study

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