A Qualitative Study of the Experiences of Living With Multiple Myeloma.
Matthew R LeBlanc, Thomas W LeBlanc, Ashley Leak Bryant and 3 others
PMID 33600390WHAT IT FOUND
People living with multiple myeloma described treatment as endless, with maintenance therapy continuing even in remission.
Fatigue, neuropathy, diarrhea, infection worry, money stress, and relationship strain limited daily life and social participation.
Key findings
01People and clinicians described four ongoing impacts: treatment without end, social isolation, financial pressure, and relationship strain.
02Fatigue and neuropathy made it hard for participants to leave home, complete daily activities, or take part in activities they enjoy.
03Five participants left the workforce, and the appointment schedule required by treatment made maintaining employment difficult.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The sample was modest, with 15 patients and 10 clinicians, so the themes may not represent all people living with multiple myeloma. Patients were recruited from one academic medical center in the Southeastern US, were on treatment at interview, and were younger at diagnosis than the national multiple myeloma population. Clinicians were recruited from two academic medical centers, so their views may not match other settings. The findings may not represent people in remission and off treatment, or people treated in rural or community cancer centers.
Declared interests
The supplied text does not include a funding or conflict-of-interest declaration. The article metadata lists NIH extramural and non-U.S. government research support.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read these themes as proof that a specific nursing or rehabilitation approach improves outcomes. The study interviewed 15 patients and 10 clinicians and did not test an intervention.