'Where they've got bad side effects or less response it's a difficult treatment?: Oncology health professionals' experiences of supporting people receiving immunotherapy

Watts, Tessa ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1201-5192, Anstey, Sally ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2295-3761 and Jennings, Stephen 2022. 'Where they've got bad side effects or less response it's a difficult treatment?: Oncology health professionals' experiences of supporting people receiving immunotherapy. Presented at: RCN International Nursing Research Conference, Cardiff, UK, 5-6 Sept 2022.

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Abstract

Background Internationally, greater access to some cancer immunotherapies is transforming outcomes for more people with some cancers. Immunotherapies can be associated with diverse, novel, unpredictable immune-related toxicities which can impact negatively on patients’ health, wellbeing, quality-of-life and treatment continuation. Oncology health professionals are critical to safe, effective person-centred immunotherapy care, yet little is known about their experiences of supporting these patients. This knowledge is important to improve understanding, identify knowledge gaps, inform patient and health professionals’ immunotherapy education and optimise patients’ health outcomes. Aim To better understand how oncology health professionals’ support people receiving immunotherapy for cancer. Methods A qualitative exploratory approach was adopted. Oncology healthcare professionals were recruited across England and Wales via social media. Data were generated between May and September 2020 using semi-structured interviews via telephone or online, secure video-conferencing. Interviews were fully transcribed, anonymised and analysed using Braun and Clarke’s (2022) inductive, reflexive thematic approach to ensure key patterns and experiences were captured, relative to the study's research questions. Results Eighteen senior NHS oncology healthcare professional participated: twelve nurses, 3 physicians and 3 pharmacists. Analysis identified three predominant themes: Certainty with uncertainty; doing immunotherapy toxicity management and prioritising immunotherapy education enhancement. Discussion and conclusion Immunotherapies offered genuine possibility of improved disease and survivorship outcomes engendering hope and optimism. Yet this was balanced against profound uncertainties regarding disease response and complex toxicities. While the need for holistic care was recognised, psychological support was downplayed. Direct care focused on proactive and reactive toxicity management and was contingent on nurses’ expert coordination and organisation of cross-boundary multi-professional care. The complexity of supporting people receiving cancer immunotherapy was set against a background of suboptimal immunotherapy knowledge. Educational preparation and support for patients, the public and health professionals in primary and secondary care must be prioritised and appropriate educational interventions co-developed.

Item Type:	Conference or Workshop Item - unpublished
Date Type:	Completion
Status:	Unpublished
Schools:	Schools > Healthcare Sciences
Funders:	Macmillan Cancer Support
Projects:	Experiences of Cancer Immunotherapy with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors
Last Modified:	08 Oct 2026 10:54
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/152452

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