A Comparative Analysis of the Perception of Cancer Patients and Healthcare Providers (Oncology Physicians, Nurses, Social Workers) in Support of Integrated Community-Linked Cancer Plans

Young Ae Kim, Min Gee Choi, E Hwa Yun, So-Youn Jung, Ah Kyung Park, Hye Ri Choi and Yoon Jung Chang
Additional contact information
Young Ae Kim: National Cancer Center, National Cancer Control Institute, Goyang-si 10408, Gyeonggi-do, Korea
Min Gee Choi: National Cancer Center, National Cancer Control Institute, Goyang-si 10408, Gyeonggi-do, Korea
E Hwa Yun: National Cancer Center, Division of Cancer Registration & Surveillance, Goyang-si 10408, Gyeonggi-do, Korea
So-Youn Jung: Cancer Healthcare Research Branch, National Cancer Center, Goyang-si 10408, Gyeonggi-do, Korea
Ah Kyung Park: Social Work Team, National Cancer Center, Goyang-si 10408, Gyeonggi-do, Korea
Hye Ri Choi: National Cancer Center, National Cancer Control Institute, Goyang-si 10408, Gyeonggi-do, Korea
Yoon Jung Chang: National Cancer Center, National Cancer Control Institute, Goyang-si 10408, Gyeonggi-do, Korea

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 21, 1-9

Abstract: This study aimed to examine the awareness and status of cancer patients and healthcare providers (physicians, nurses and social workers) regarding community linkage, in order to establish a desirable care plan model in a future research project. The survey was conducted via two methods: face-to-face for cancer patients ( n = 308) and oncology physicians ( n = 210), and due to COVID-19 circumstances, online for nurses ( n = 200) and social workers ( n = 313). As a result, more than 95% of the healthcare providers responded that cancer patients required community-linked services and discharge plans, whereas 50.7% and 79.2% of cancer patients noted the importance of community-linked services and discharge plans, respectively. Social workers, among healthcare providers, showed the most positive experience about connecting patients to community services since 69.7% of them responded as “excellent”. However, as a group, cancer patients considered the necessity of community-linked service as less important, as only 50.7% responded as agreeing it was necessary. The barriers to community linkage were the lack of communication among the different professions of healthcare providers, and the ambiguity in their roles. The findings of this study will inform future community-linked health research, policies and systems for cancer patients. In particular, an in-depth interview with cancer patients will be required to explore their lack of acknowledgment about the necessity of community-linked services. Therefore, this study is expected to contribute to the improvement and supplementation of cancer policies.

Keywords: health policy; oncology; quality in health care; public health; primary care (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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