Care pathway of patients living with lung cancer

Abstract This article analyzes the feelings and difficulties of lung cancer patients and their families regarding diagnostic and therapeutic itineraries. This is qualitative research with focus group of patient/family dyads. Two categories of analysis stood out: ‘Pathway start and Diagnosis’ and ‘In search of treatment: barriers’. The difficulty of diagnosis is discussed due to the lack of infrastructure of services, scarce financial resources of patients, inadequate public health network and unpreparedness for diagnosis. After diagnosis, we present the path in search of treatment and the financial, geographical, structural and work process barriers in public health. Patients in small municipalities or rural areas face more difficulties in accessing health services. We conclud that the care pathway in the public sector is influenced by health inequalities and vulnerabilities, reflecting less access to services and delayed diagnosis and treatment of the disease.

摘要 本研究分析了肺癌患者及其家属在诊疗路径中的切身感受与现实困境。本研究为针对患者-家属配对组的焦点小组（focus group）定性研究。最终确立两大核心分析类别：「诊疗路径启动与诊断阶段」以及「寻求治疗过程中的障碍」。
研究探讨了诊断环节的难点成因，具体包括医疗服务基础设施匮乏、患者经济资源拮据、公共卫生网络不完善以及临床诊断准备不足等问题。确诊后，本研究阐述了患者寻求治疗的完整路径，以及公立卫生体系中存在的经济、地域、结构及工作流程层面的多重障碍。居住于小型城镇或农村地区的患者，在获取医疗服务时面临更为严峻的困难。本研究最终得出结论：公立医疗体系中的照护路径受健康不平等与脆弱性因素显著影响，具体表现为服务可及性更低、疾病诊断与治疗进程延迟等问题。