CAre appropriate to the Needs of breast cancer patients with DisabilitY (CANDY)

• Applicant: Dr. Sophie Elisabeth Groß
• Subject Area: Public Health, Healthcare Research, Social and Occupational Medicine
• Term: from 2019 to 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 417700226

BackgroundIncreasing life expectancy in the general population and in people with disabilities is accompanied by an increasing prevalence of age-related diseases such as cancer. National studies focusing on health care for cancer patients with disabilities are rare. International studies mostly investigate how access to health services can be improved for people with disabilities and how differences in mortality rates can be explained. Many questions, such as disability-specific barriers, information requirements and communication difficulties in the transfer of knowledge among people with disabilities are still unanswered, although there is an urgent need for action here, not least as a result of the UN Disability Rights Convention (UN DRC) under the right to maximum health without discrimination on the grounds of disability.The aim of the present project proposal is to identify experienced disability-specific barriers, communication difficulties and information needs of breast cancer patients with disabilities.MethodIn a qualitative study, disability-specific barriers, communication difficulties and information needs of breast cancer patients with a previously officially determined disability are to be determined by means of structured guideline interviews. There will be 30 interviews with patients with different disabilities, previous diseases and educational levels, approximately 1-2 months after surgery for primary breast cancer. Patients are selected according to the selective sampling method. The interviews are digitally recorded, then transcribed and analysed. Based on the experiences described, disability-specific barriers and information requirements are to be derived. Expected resultsDifferent needs are to be expected between breast cancer patients with physical, mental, intellectual, and sensory or multiple disabilities. The results of the proposed research project can describe the disability-specific (communicative) barriers and information requirements of breast cancer patients with disabilities in the course of prevention, diagnosis, decision-making processes and in the course of therapy and aftercare in Germany.DiscussionThe proposed research project can contribute to demand-oriented health care for breast cancer patients with disabilities. The findings should strengthen the health competence and autonomy of breast cancer patients with disabilities and place the needs of people with disabilities in the focus of health care research. Especially against the background of demographic change and the demand of the UN-DRC, this project seems to be of great importance

• DFG Programme: Research Grants