Exploring Patient Experiences of Symptom Support From Healthcare Professionals in Acute and Chronic Illness: A Qualitative Study.
Malene Missel, Mary Jarden, Nanna Witting and 9 others
PMID 41749440WHAT IT FOUND
Patients with serious illness described symptom support as fragmented after acute treatment, with too little continuity and time.
They wanted a consistent professional who knew their journey, listened, and gave face-to-face guidance.
Key findings
01Patients described symptom support as fragmented and inconsistent, especially after acute treatment, and wanted a consistent point of contact.
02Being seen, heard, and taken seriously in dialogue with healthcare professionals was central to feeling supported.
03Patients wanted disease-specific physiotherapy and in-person guidance to confirm they were doing exercises correctly.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The sample was 10 patients, so the findings describe a small group rather than a general patient population. Participants were recruited from specialised outpatient clinics at Danish university hospitals, so their experiences may not match other healthcare settings. Two men took part, and age variation was limited, which may narrow the perspectives captured. The researchers interpreted the interviews through their own professional and theoretical positions. Multiple interviewers may have shaped the conversations, although the team used shared training and joint analysis. Time since diagnosis ranged from 2 weeks to 26 years, so participants may have had different expectations of support. The analysis emphasised universal aspects of symptoms, which may make illness-specific details less visible.
Declared interests
The authors reported nothing to disclose.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read these themes as proof that a specific symptom-support method improves outcomes. The study reports patient experiences, not measured effects.