LB23
The lived experience of venous access
Melissa Robinson-Reilly1, Penny Paliadelis2, Mary Cruickshank3
1North Coast Cancer Institute, NSW, Australia; 2University of New England, NSW, Australia; 3Charles Darwin University, NT, Australia
Background
The primary aim of this study is to bring forth the experience, as voiced, by
the oncology patients who have undergone venous access/cannulation. This
qualitative study explored the lived experiences of participants in order to
better understand the impact of repeated cannulation on the cancer journey from
the patients perspective.
Method
This qualitative study used a hermeneutic phenomenological approach to explore
the participants lived experience of being cannulated. Two rural oncology
units in New South Wales were chosen to recruit participants. This participant
sample was selected for the research given that the treatment received would
include intravenous therapy and are a representative of the group the research
is intended to benefit. Individual face to face interviews with participants
who had either completed a course of chemotherapy or were currently being
treated were conducted as it is implicit to understand what the participant is
experiencing by knowing what they know. The data was analysed using two
methods of manual and qualitative computer software, Leximancer. Four themes
emerged from the data that represented the participants lived experience of
being repeatedly cannulated.
Result
The four themes emerged as preliminary findings revealing that the patients
choices about how, when and where to be cannulated was limited and they felt
that a holistic approach to care was often abandoned. Examples of patient
vulnerability and medical paternalism are demonstrated via direct quotes from
the participants. Adjunct to these findings, participants also shared how the
experiences of cannulation broadly impacted on their cancer journey and on
their experiences seeking further health care.
Conclusion
This study will add significantly to the small body of knowledge surrounding an
improved understanding of the experience of being cannulated from the patients
perspective, which will contribute to best-practice and improved patient
outcomes.
