The experiences of patients with advanced cancer and caregivers presenting to Emergency Departments: A qualitative study

Abstract

Background: Despite being a common event in the course of an advanced cancer illness, there is little understanding of patients’ perceptions of hospital Emergency Department presentations. Aim: To explore the experiences and perceptions of Emergency Departments held by patients with advanced cancer and their informal caregivers. Design: Cross-sectional study involving semi-structured interviews with advanced cancer patients and their informal caregivers. Qualitative data analysis was underpinned by a phenomenological approach utilising a data-driven inductive thematic frame. Setting/participants: In total, 19 patients with advanced cancer who presented to Emergency Departments in the previou..