Professionals' perspectives on caring for cancer patients with pre-existing severe mental disorders.

INTRODUCTION: Cancer trajectories among patients with pre-existing severe mental disorders (SMD) are challenging and these pateints' prognosis is poor. This study aimed at exploring barriers in cancer trajectories among patients with pre-existing SMD as experienced by Danish healthcare professionals.

METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with healthcare professionals who were sampled by purposive sampling. Data were analysed using inductive qualitative content analysis.

RESULTS: The participants wanted to optimise treatment, but several barriers were reported, including lack of knowledge of supportive social systems. Oncological participants experienced a lack of knowledge of psychiatric disorders and a reluctance to deal with patients with SMD among some colleagues. Furthermore, participants expressed a lack of time and continuity.

CONCLUSIONS: Concerns about how to create optimal cancer care trajectories for people with pre-existing SMD exist among healthcare professionals. Even so, stigmatisation, lack of knowledge and system barriers such as a lack of time and continuity must be addressed to optimise care for this population.

FUNDING: This study was funded by The Danish Cancer Society (R283-A16499).

TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study is registered in the internal register of research projects of the Central Denmark Region (R. no. 1-16-02-227-21).