Qualitative analysis of gynecologic oncology patients’ experience with treatment holidays
Objective: Patients with advanced or recurrent gynecologic malignancies occasionally take breaks from systemic treatment colloquially referred to as “treatment holidays” or “chemotherapy holidays.” There are no data from the patient perspective that help describe this experience. Methods: Patients w...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2022-02-01
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| Series: | Gynecologic Oncology Reports |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352578921002150 |
| _version_ | 1831795012112744448 |
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| author | Benjamin Margolis Megan E. Sutter Leslie R. Boyd Abigail Ford Winkel |
| author_facet | Benjamin Margolis Megan E. Sutter Leslie R. Boyd Abigail Ford Winkel |
| author_sort | Benjamin Margolis |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objective: Patients with advanced or recurrent gynecologic malignancies occasionally take breaks from systemic treatment colloquially referred to as “treatment holidays” or “chemotherapy holidays.” There are no data from the patient perspective that help describe this experience. Methods: Patients with recurrent or advanced primary gynecologic malignancies who had decided to enter a treatment holiday were recruited and interviewed. A treatment holiday was defined as a planned temporary break or delay in treatment for a patient with recurrent or advanced primary gynecologic malignancy for reasons other than pursuit of hospice or best supportive care, research protocol violation or unacceptable toxicity. Interviews were audiotaped, transcribed and then analyzed using an inductive thematic analysis. Results: Of 6 total patients identified for participation, 5 completed interviews with ages ranging from 57 to 80 years. Two participants returned to their previous treatment regimen after their holiday therapy, two switched therapies, and one remained on an extended break from systemic treatment. Treatment holidays were experienced as a break from the physical and psychological routine of being a cancer patient, but also brought about feelings of a lack of structure, uncertainty, and led to a confrontation with mortality issues. Overall, participants had favorable experiences which were initiated by their providers in whom they had a deep sense of trust. Conclusion: Patients experience treatment holidays as a positive and valuable break from the physical and psychosocial routine of cancer treatment and illness. These experiences produce distinct emotional needs that clinicians should address to best support patients electing treatment holidays. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T16:00:56Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f8e541913fe44b29a97f29d1e9f2f268 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2352-5789 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T16:00:56Z |
| publishDate | 2022-02-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Gynecologic Oncology Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-f8e541913fe44b29a97f29d1e9f2f2682022-12-21T18:20:41ZengElsevierGynecologic Oncology Reports2352-57892022-02-0139100911Qualitative analysis of gynecologic oncology patients’ experience with treatment holidaysBenjamin Margolis0Megan E. Sutter1Leslie R. Boyd2Abigail Ford Winkel3New York University Langone Health, 550 1st Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USANew York University Langone Health, 550 1st Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA; Department of Population Health, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USANew York University Langone Health, 550 1st Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA; NYU Langone Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, 240 East 38th Street, New York, NY 10016, USANew York University Langone Health, 550 1st Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA; Corresponding author at: Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Assistant Director for Education Scholarship, Institute for Innovations in Medical Education, 550 First Avenue, NBV 9E2, New York, NY 10016, USA.Objective: Patients with advanced or recurrent gynecologic malignancies occasionally take breaks from systemic treatment colloquially referred to as “treatment holidays” or “chemotherapy holidays.” There are no data from the patient perspective that help describe this experience. Methods: Patients with recurrent or advanced primary gynecologic malignancies who had decided to enter a treatment holiday were recruited and interviewed. A treatment holiday was defined as a planned temporary break or delay in treatment for a patient with recurrent or advanced primary gynecologic malignancy for reasons other than pursuit of hospice or best supportive care, research protocol violation or unacceptable toxicity. Interviews were audiotaped, transcribed and then analyzed using an inductive thematic analysis. Results: Of 6 total patients identified for participation, 5 completed interviews with ages ranging from 57 to 80 years. Two participants returned to their previous treatment regimen after their holiday therapy, two switched therapies, and one remained on an extended break from systemic treatment. Treatment holidays were experienced as a break from the physical and psychological routine of being a cancer patient, but also brought about feelings of a lack of structure, uncertainty, and led to a confrontation with mortality issues. Overall, participants had favorable experiences which were initiated by their providers in whom they had a deep sense of trust. Conclusion: Patients experience treatment holidays as a positive and valuable break from the physical and psychosocial routine of cancer treatment and illness. These experiences produce distinct emotional needs that clinicians should address to best support patients electing treatment holidays.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352578921002150Treatment holidayChemotherapy holidayQualitative |
| spellingShingle | Benjamin Margolis Megan E. Sutter Leslie R. Boyd Abigail Ford Winkel Qualitative analysis of gynecologic oncology patients’ experience with treatment holidays Gynecologic Oncology Reports Treatment holiday Chemotherapy holiday Qualitative |
| title | Qualitative analysis of gynecologic oncology patients’ experience with treatment holidays |
| title_full | Qualitative analysis of gynecologic oncology patients’ experience with treatment holidays |
| title_fullStr | Qualitative analysis of gynecologic oncology patients’ experience with treatment holidays |
| title_full_unstemmed | Qualitative analysis of gynecologic oncology patients’ experience with treatment holidays |
| title_short | Qualitative analysis of gynecologic oncology patients’ experience with treatment holidays |
| title_sort | qualitative analysis of gynecologic oncology patients experience with treatment holidays |
| topic | Treatment holiday Chemotherapy holiday Qualitative |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352578921002150 |
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