Influence of Needs and Experiences of Haemato-Oncology Patients on Acceptability of a Telephone Intervention for Support and Symptom Management: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Healthcare technologies are increasingly used to address the unmet needs of patients with cancer; however new service developments must be acceptable to patients. The objective of this study was to determine the unmet needs of haemato-oncology patients and their influence on the perceived acceptability and participation in a telephone intervention delivering. A qualitative study was designed interviewing 20 participants having received the intervention. Data were analysed inductively and deductively using Framework Analysis. Three core themes emerged: (1) fluctuations in emotional distress and coping across the cancer trajectory with evidence of adaptive and maladaptive coping; (2) potential deficits in patient support, continuity of care and information provision; and (3) intervention acceptability analysis underpinned by the Theoretical Framework of Acceptability showed acceptability was influenced by participants’ subjective illness contexts and unmet needs. This work contributes to understanding of personal context as a determinant of intervention acceptability in order to enhance implementation strategies.