To explore women's experience of the period after completion of cancer treatment for gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN): a descriptive exploratory study.
A descriptive exploratory qualitative study.
Women diagnosed with the rare pregnancy-related cancer GTN who had completed their treatment participated in semi-structured telephone interviews. Twenty-two interviews were conducted in June 2024 and digitally recorded and transcribed verbatim. The analysis used reflective thematic analysis.
Complex responses to treatment completion were revealed, described by some as a ‘double-edged sword’. The end of treatment routine, coupled with recovery from physical effects, left space for the impact of all they had experienced to ‘hit home’. Multiple concerns and losses were described, including issues relating to pregnancy, self-identity, confidence, fear of recurrence, work and relationships. Gaps in immediate post-treatment support services created challenges for recovery.
The study provides valuable insight into the physical, emotional and social impact of GTN experienced by patients following treatment. The findings highlight the importance of continuing support in the immediate post-treatment period. This study has identified ways in which services can be improved, recognising the need for an individual-tailored approach to reflect the complex responses of patients to treatment completion.
The findings reveal that many women begin to process the implications of their diagnosis and treatment following the completion of their treatment. The end of treatment can be a time when support from healthcare staff is reduced due to fewer routine contacts with healthcare staff. However, these findings suggest the need for nurses to ensure services continue to provide support during the post-treatment recovery phase.
The interview schedule was reviewed by women previously treated for GTN.
Healthcare consumers require diverse resources to assist their navigation of complex healthcare interactions, however, these resources need to be fit for purpose.
In this study, we evaluated the utility, usability and feasibility of children, families and adults requiring long-term intravenous therapy using a recently developed mobile health application (App), intravenous (IV) Passport.
Multi-site, parallel, multi-method, prospective cohort study.
A multi-site, multi-method study was carried out in 2020–2021, with 46 participants (20 adults, 26 children/family) reporting on their experiences surrounding the use of the IV Passport for up to 6 months.
Overall, utility rates were acceptable, with 78.3% (N = 36) using the IV Passport over the follow-up period, with high rates of planned future use for those still active in the project (N = 21; 73%), especially in the child/family cohort (N = 13; 100%). Acceptability rates were high (9/10; IQR 6.5–10), with the IV Passport primarily used for documenting new devices and complications. Thematic analysis revealed three main themes (and multiple subthemes) in the qualitative data: Advocacy for healthcare needs, Complexity of healthcare and App design and functionality.
Several recommendations were made to improve the end-user experience including ‘how to’ instructions; and scheduling functionality for routine care.
The IV Passport can be safely and appropriately integrated into healthcare, to support consumers.
Patient-/parent-reported feedback suggests the Intravenous Passport is a useful tool for record-keeping, and positive communication between patients/parents, and clinicians.
Not applicable.
Consumers reported their experiences surrounding the use of the IV Passport for up to 6 months.
Research on aging women who are involved in prostitution is currently limited, both in terms of the number of studies conducted and their scope. Nevertheless, the available research suggests that women who are aging while involved in prostitution may confront some unique challenges. Thus, the study aims to explore the experiences of aging as narrated by Arab women in prostitution, using Intersectionality as a theoretical framework.
Interpretive phenomenological analysis was used, and semistructured interviews were performed with 12 participants.
Four themes emerged: “I'm a 45-year-old woman in the body of an 80-year-old:” Loss of physical and mental health; “There is no retirement plan in prostitution: Economic and social losses; As they were taken, my soul went with them too: The loss of the parenting experience and motherhood”; and “I'm going to get older with the disgust clinging to me:” The loss of authentic identity and dignity.
The findings demonstrate how aging serves to exacerbate overlapping forms of discrimination and marginalization.
Healthcare professionals, including nurses caring for older women in prostitution, should be aware of their unique circumstances, considering the social, economic, and healthcare obstacles they face. By being cognizant of these factors, healthcare practitioners can provide meaningful assistance in their pursuit of improved quality of life.