Experiences of psychological flow as described by people diagnosed with and treated for head and neck cancer

Björklund, Margereth; Fridlund, Bengt; Mårtensson, Jan

doi:10.1016/j.ejon.2019.09.012

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 25 publications

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“…Several other personal coping mechanisms emerged, which have been previously reported (Martins et al, 2019 ; Walshe et al, 2017 ). Björklund et al noted that optimal psychological flow in cancer patients was achieved when they were completely immersed in hobbies, work or family (Björklund et al, 2019 ). This highlights that the most effective strategies to tackle cancer anxiety seem to be those that distract patients.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Not as simple as "fear of the unknown": A qualitative study exploring anxiety in the radiotherapy department

Gimson

Dottori

Clunie

et al. 2022

European J Cancer Care

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Objective: Little is understood about the anxiety experienced by cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy or investigative imaging. Our aim was to identify sources of anxiety, the points along the cancer journey where anxiety occurred and methods to alleviate it.Methods: Six focus groups were conducted with cancer patients (n = 17), caregivers (n = 3) and healthcare practitioners (HCPs; n = 10) in the radiotherapy department.Patients described specific elements in the care pathway which induced anxiety, while HCPs focused on their perception of the patient experience. Thematic analysis was used to analyse data.Results: Three broad themes emerged: The Environment, The Individual and The Unknown. The physical environment of the hospital, inside the scanner for example, emerged as a key source of anxiety. The impact of cancer on patients' individual lives was significant, with many feeling isolated. The majority of participants described anxiety associated with the unknown. HCPs reported difficulty in identifying the anxious patient.Conclusions: Anxiety is experienced throughout the cancer pathway. Common sources include the physical environment and the uncertainty associated with having cancer. Identifying both anxiety-inducing factors, and the anxious patients themselves, is crucial to enable targeted interventions to alleviate anxiety.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%