Obstacles to cancer care: focus on the economically disadvantaged.

摘要: PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES To provide additional documentation of the unmet cancer prevention and control needs poor Americans. DESIGN AND SETTING Qualitative analysis testimony provided at American Cancer Society hearings on poor. SAMPLE 46 economically disadvantaged individuals with personal experiences cancer. METHODS Review transcription oral qualitative for recurrent themes to identify common obstacles care. FINDINGS Six major were identified: care was deferred because costs; described as "fragmented," "impersonal," "symptomatic;" patients discouraged from worrying about bodily changes; seeking state-of-the-art care; experienced difficulty communicating their concerns; poverty interfered efforts participate in volunteer activities. CONCLUSIONS Testimony is suggestive problems that face. Challenges improve situation include expanding extending diagnostic, treatment, rehabilitative services poor; facilitating education prevention; further research document scope problem. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE Nurses should engage debate over healthcare reform take advantage opportunities define development procedures, strategies, systems removing quality