Transition from Hospital to Community Care: The Experience of Cancer Patients

Abstract

Purpose: This study examines care transition experiences of cancer patients and assesses barriers to effective transitions.

Methods: Participants were adult Hebrew, Arabic, or Russian speaking oncology patients and health care providers from hospital and community settings. Qualitative (n=77) and quantitative (n=422) methods such as focus groups, interviews and self-administered questionnaires were used. Qualitative analysis showed that patients faced difficulties navigating a complex and fragmented healthcare system.

Results: Mechanisms to overcome barriers included informal routes such as personal relationships, coordinating roles by nurse coordinators and the patients' general practitioners (GPs). The most significant variable was GPs involvement, which affected transition process quality as rated on the CTM (p<0.001). Our findings point to the important interpersonal role of oncology nurses to coordinate and facilitate the care transition process.

Conclusion: Interventions targeted towards supporting the care transition process should emphasize ongoing counseling throughout a patient’s care, during and after hospitalization.

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Cite this article as:  Admi H, Muller E, Shadmi E. Transition from Hospital to Community Care: The Experience of Cancer Patients. Int J Cancer Ther Oncol 2015; 3(4):34011.

[This abstract was presented at the BIT’s 8^th Annual World Cancer Congress, which was held from May 15-17, 2015 in Beijing, China.]