Individual Abstract within a Delegate Designed Symposium 2025 Joint Meeting of the COSA ASM and IPOS Congress

Experiences of Family Caregivers Facing Cancer Progression: A Triadic Perspective with Patients and Healthcare Professionals in France and Switzerland (126136)

Kristopher KL Lamore 1 , Julia JK Koly 2 , Nicolas NP Penel 3 4 , Pierre-Yves PYD Dietrich 5 6 , Lisa LLL Laroussi-Libeault 1 2 , Sophie SL Lelorain 2
  1. SCALab - Sciences Cognitives et Sciences Affectives (CNRS, UMR 9193), University of Lille, Lille, France
  2. Psychology Institute, PHASE – Research Centre for Psychology of Health, Aging and Sport Examination, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
  3. Department of Medical Oncology, Centre Oscar Lambret, Lille, Lille, France
  4. ULR 2694 – Metrics: Evaluation des Technologies de Santé et des Pratiques Médicales, University of Lille, CHU Lille, Lille, France
  5. Clinique des Grangettes Hirslanden, Geneva, Switzerland
  6. Faculty of Medecine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland

Objectives/Purpose: Cancer progression represents a critical turning point for patients and family caregivers. While much attention has been paid to patients' experiences at various stages of the illness, their perspectives during consultations announcing treatment changes remain understudied – as well as their family caregivers experiences. Therefore, our aim was to explore patients, caregivers and healthcare professionals (HCPs) experiences and needs during these consultations. This presentation will specifically focus on caregivers’ experiences and needs, as described by themselves and as perceived by others.

Sample and Setting: Two qualitative studies were conducted in oncology departments in France and Switzerland. Participants included 20 HCPs (oncologists, surgeons, and nurses), 10 patients with advanced cancer, and 5 caregiversinvolved in consultations about treatment changes due to disease progression.

Procedures: Data were collected through semi-structured interviews until data saturation was reached, exploring experiences of treatment change consultations (for caregivers and patients) or clinical practices and patients/caregivers needs (for HCPs). A cross-perspective approach, combining a thematic analysis and interpretative phenomenological analysis, was used to compare experiences and expectations of caregivers, patients, and HCPs.

Results: Caregivers described these consultations as emotionally overwhelming and cognitively difficult to follow. Two main themes emerged. (1) Predetermined paths – Treatment options were often framed as predetermined, limiting caregivers’ ability to contribute, despite their informal advocacy roles. (2) Divergent priorities – HCPs focused on medical justification, and patients on disease outlook, while caregivers prioritized emotional and practical needs. Additionally, the hope generated by new treatment proposals is a double-edged sword, both helping and hindering acceptance of prognosis.

Conclusion and Clinical Implications: Despite their central role, caregivers may face barriers to inclusion and recognition. Structural reforms are needed to embed caregivers in clinical pathways through inclusive communication, professional training, and policy changes that acknowledge caregiving as an essential element of cancer care.