Contrasting Patients’ and Healthcare Professionals’ Experience in Hematological Cancer Care Pathway : A Narrative Study

Hematological cancers represent 10% of cancers diagnosed in Canada. Treatments involve complex care pathways and various modalities as well as the management and monitoring of multiple side effects. There is limited understanding of these pathways from the perspectives of the people living with cancer (PLC) and the healthcare professional (HCP). The aim of this article is to contrast the experiences of PLCs and HCPs in the context of hematological cancer care pathway. Narrative study approach was chosen for this exploratory study. Twenty-one narratives were co-created with PLCs (n = 12) and HCPs (n = 9). A structural and comparative analysis of the narratives was performed. Results underline how PLCs’ and HCPs’ experiences were intertwined but not interdependent. PLCs seek to reconfigure their lives, while HCPs aim to individualize and enhance care for their patients. Furthermore, the shared experience between PLCs and HCPs proved beneficial for both groups. Ultimately, our findings underscore the need to access greater understanding into the dynamics of the relationship between PLCs and HCPs that could enhance quality of healthcare and services in the context of hematological cancer care.