Challenges, care gaps, and coping mechanisms in patients with advanced cancer and their caregivers following palliative gastrointestinal surgery

作者：Xiaofan Zhong, Wei Jing Fong, Darryl Juan, Mingzhe Cai, Jane Chin Jin Seo, Johnny Chin-Ann Ong, Claramae Chia, Jolene Si Min Wong, Sungwon Yoon · 发表于：Palliative Care and Social Practice · 年份：2026 · DOI：10.1177/26323524261425678 · 研究领域：Stoma care and complications、Cancer survivorship and care、Music Therapy and Health

Background: Palliative gastrointestinal surgery improves symptoms and health-related quality of life in patients who present with complications from advanced cancer. However, palliative surgery near the end-of-life is associated with significant physiological and psychological stressors for both patients and their caregivers. Yet literature on patient and caregiver centric narratives following surgery remains limited. Objectives: We aim to explore challenges, perceived care gaps, and coping mechanisms of patients with advanced cancer and their caregivers following palliative gastrointestinal surgery. Design & methods: We conducted qualitative in-depth interviews with 25 purposively sampled patients with advanced cancer and 13 caregivers following palliative gastrointestinal surgery. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and thematically analyzed. Results: There were four major themes that identified as challenges and perceived care gaps among patients and caregivers: (1) physical, emotional, and systemic challenges of living with a stoma after palliative gastrointestinal surgery, (2) emotional, existential, and relational challenges of living with advanced cancer, (3) navigating uncertainty amid suboptimal surgical communication, and (4) emotional and relational strain from lack of compassionate surgical care. Four themes identified as coping mechanisms: (1) emotion- (2) meaning-, (3) problem- and (4) avoidance-focused coping. Conclusion: Patients and caregivers face multiface...