Maintaining psychosocial wellbeing for post-treatment haematological cancer survivors: Strategies and potential barriers.

Haematological cancers often require aggressive treatment which can cause both late and long term physical and psychosocial effects that can appear years after treatment ends. However there is a paucity of studies that focus on psychosocial issues among post-treatment haematological cancer survivors. This research aimed to explore the strategies used by haematological cancer survivors to maintain psychosocial wellbeing in the post-treatment period, and examine the barriers they identify to maintaining wellbeing. This research utilised a qualitative research design. Participants were recruited through the New Zealand Cancer Registry. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 23 post-treatment haematological cancer survivors. A thematic analysis was conducted to analyse the data. The analysis identified three themes describing the strategies that enabled participants to maintain psychosocial wellbeing: inner strength; support from personal connections; support from health professionals/support organisations. Two themes were also identified describing the barriers to psychosocial wellbeing: barriers to utilising personal connections; barriers to utilising support from health professionals/support organisations. Psychosocial support from others was essential in maintaining wellbeing for survivors. The participants who had ready support from family and friends reported needing less psychosocial support from other sources. However, those who needed more psychosocial support did not always receive it, or know where to find it. The key barriers to this type of support were informational gaps and not having a specific contact person to ask for help. Further research is needed to support the development of interventions to reduce psychosocial distress among this underserved group of cancer survivors.

Raphael D ，Frey R ，Gott M 《-》

The nature and timing of distress among post-treatment haematological cancer survivors.

Many people with haematological cancers will not meet the diagnostic criteria for a psychological disorder, but will still suffer distress during treatment and beyond. The current study aimed to explore the nature and timing of psychosocial distress experienced by haematological cancer survivors. Twenty-three post-treatment haematological cancer survivors participated in a semi-structured interview. Data were analysed using thematic analysis which involved identifying, analysing and reporting themes. Four themes were identified: Apprehension about leaving the safety of the health care system comprises the struggles encountered when transitioning from patient to survivor, Uncertainty and life transitions in the post-treatment period encompasses the changes survivors face when attempting to re-enter their "normal" lives, Distress associated with ongoing physical problems or impairment describes issues associated with the ongoing physical sequelae, and Fear of recurrence encapsulates how the continuing threat of cancer recurrence impacted survivors. This study has found that distress is ongoing for many haematological cancer survivors in the post-treatment period. It is imperative that distress is identified and support offered to those in need to prevent further psychosocial issues. It is especially important to consider the psychosocial needs of survivors in the post-treatment stage who are discharged from the health system may be unsure where to seek help.

Raphael D ，Frey R ，Gott M 《-》

Psychosocial distress in haematological cancer survivors: An integrative review.

Haematological cancers are becoming more prevalent, however, survival is also increasing. Many survivors are faced with psychosocial issues after treatment ends, and they may not receive the support they need. This review aims to examine peer reviewed literature reporting psychosocial distress faced by haematological cancer survivors in the early post-treatment period. Database and hand searches were conducted between August and September 2015, with no year restriction. Eligible studies were those reporting on psychosocial sequelae in haematological cancer survivors up to 5 years post-treatment. The search yielded 512 studies, of these only seven (five quantitative and two qualitative) included data that addressed psychosocial distress in early post-treatment haematological cancer survivors. Data were thematically analysed to explore the presence and nature of distress. Most studies reported mild to moderate distress for survivors, with some evidence that younger age was an indicator of increased distress. However, predominately this review identified a gap in current literature regarding distress among this group of survivors. More research is needed to address the psychosocial issues facing this growing survivor group, to enable them to receive the support required to maintain good physical and psychological health in this period of the cancer trajectory and into the future.

Raphael D ，Frey R ，Gott M 《-》

Use of the supportive care framework to explore haematological cancer survivors' unmet needs: a qualitative study.

Herrmann A ，Mansfield E ，Tzelepis F ，Lynagh M ，Hall A ... -  《BMC HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH》

What are the barriers of quality survivorship care for haematology cancer patients? Qualitative insights from cancer nurses.

Langbecker D ，Ekberg S ，Yates P ，Chan A ，Chan RJ ... -  《-》