Psychosocial Issues and Experiences of Advanced Stage Lung Cancer Patients Receiving Palliative Care: A Qualitative Study

ABSTRACT Background A thorough examination of psychosocial problems and individual patient experiences could contribute to a better understanding of the needs of advanced stage lung cancer patients and the development of personalized care models. Methods This qualitative study investigates the psych...

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Main Authors: Dilek Yıldırım, Vildan Kocatepe
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-08-01
Series:Cancer Medicine
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/cam4.71101
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author Dilek Yıldırım
Vildan Kocatepe
author_facet Dilek Yıldırım
Vildan Kocatepe
author_sort Dilek Yıldırım
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT Background A thorough examination of psychosocial problems and individual patient experiences could contribute to a better understanding of the needs of advanced stage lung cancer patients and the development of personalized care models. Methods This qualitative study investigates the psychosocial issues and end‐of‐life coping strategies experienced by advanced‐stage lung cancer patients receiving palliative care at a family health center in Istanbul, Turkey, between January and October 2024. Results The average age of the patients was 58.50 ± 14.37 years, and the average duration of diagnosis was 2.156 ± 1.439 years. Most of the patients reported feeling anxiety and fear when they received the diagnosis. They expressed concerns about the impact of the illness on their children, family, and future. Despite the initial anxiety and fears, most palliative care patients with advanced‐stage lung cancer eventually accepted their illness and adapted over time. However, the duration of this adaptation and acceptance varied, and it was observed that in many cases, this acceptance was expressed as something that had to be done out of necessity. All patients had at least three symptoms, with the five most common symptoms being, in order: weakness/fatigue, severe cough, shortness of breath, pain, and weight loss. Conclusions While patients emphasized the importance of family support in the coping process, it was observed that issues such as fear of stigma, economic difficulties, and loneliness complicate this process. Feelings of regret and guilt related to a history of smoking were found to be widespread, and these emotions were found to influence the patients' coping and confrontation processes.
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spelling doaj-art-0a79cc47ee024e88a78f54be23179d622025-08-20T03:46:34ZengWileyCancer Medicine2045-76342025-08-011415n/an/a10.1002/cam4.71101Psychosocial Issues and Experiences of Advanced Stage Lung Cancer Patients Receiving Palliative Care: A Qualitative StudyDilek Yıldırım0Vildan Kocatepe1Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences Istanbul Aydin University Istanbul TurkeyDepartment of Nursing, Institute of Health Sciences Izmir Demokrasi University Izmir TurkeyABSTRACT Background A thorough examination of psychosocial problems and individual patient experiences could contribute to a better understanding of the needs of advanced stage lung cancer patients and the development of personalized care models. Methods This qualitative study investigates the psychosocial issues and end‐of‐life coping strategies experienced by advanced‐stage lung cancer patients receiving palliative care at a family health center in Istanbul, Turkey, between January and October 2024. Results The average age of the patients was 58.50 ± 14.37 years, and the average duration of diagnosis was 2.156 ± 1.439 years. Most of the patients reported feeling anxiety and fear when they received the diagnosis. They expressed concerns about the impact of the illness on their children, family, and future. Despite the initial anxiety and fears, most palliative care patients with advanced‐stage lung cancer eventually accepted their illness and adapted over time. However, the duration of this adaptation and acceptance varied, and it was observed that in many cases, this acceptance was expressed as something that had to be done out of necessity. All patients had at least three symptoms, with the five most common symptoms being, in order: weakness/fatigue, severe cough, shortness of breath, pain, and weight loss. Conclusions While patients emphasized the importance of family support in the coping process, it was observed that issues such as fear of stigma, economic difficulties, and loneliness complicate this process. Feelings of regret and guilt related to a history of smoking were found to be widespread, and these emotions were found to influence the patients' coping and confrontation processes.https://doi.org/10.1002/cam4.71101advanced cancerlung cancerpalliative carepsychosocial issuesqualitative study
spellingShingle Dilek Yıldırım
Vildan Kocatepe
Psychosocial Issues and Experiences of Advanced Stage Lung Cancer Patients Receiving Palliative Care: A Qualitative Study
Cancer Medicine
advanced cancer
lung cancer
palliative care
psychosocial issues
qualitative study
title Psychosocial Issues and Experiences of Advanced Stage Lung Cancer Patients Receiving Palliative Care: A Qualitative Study
title_full Psychosocial Issues and Experiences of Advanced Stage Lung Cancer Patients Receiving Palliative Care: A Qualitative Study
title_fullStr Psychosocial Issues and Experiences of Advanced Stage Lung Cancer Patients Receiving Palliative Care: A Qualitative Study
title_full_unstemmed Psychosocial Issues and Experiences of Advanced Stage Lung Cancer Patients Receiving Palliative Care: A Qualitative Study
title_short Psychosocial Issues and Experiences of Advanced Stage Lung Cancer Patients Receiving Palliative Care: A Qualitative Study
title_sort psychosocial issues and experiences of advanced stage lung cancer patients receiving palliative care a qualitative study
topic advanced cancer
lung cancer
palliative care
psychosocial issues
qualitative study
url https://doi.org/10.1002/cam4.71101
work_keys_str_mv AT dilekyıldırım psychosocialissuesandexperiencesofadvancedstagelungcancerpatientsreceivingpalliativecareaqualitativestudy
AT vildankocatepe psychosocialissuesandexperiencesofadvancedstagelungcancerpatientsreceivingpalliativecareaqualitativestudy