Cancer Screening, Diagnosis, And Treatment Experiences For People With Learning Disabilities : Staff And Patient Perspectives

This portfolio thesis has three separate parts: a systematic literature review, an empirical paper, and corresponding appendices. Part One is a systematic literature review that aimed to identify the factors affecting the psychosocial experience of cancer for people with learning disabilities. Eight papers were identified by the database search, the findings of which are reviewed in athematic synthesis. Four themes were derived from the data: Communication, Feeling Dismissed, Physical Impact of Cancer, and Finding Meaning. The quality of the presented findings is appraised, and implications of the findings and considerations for future research and clinical practice are discussed.Part Two is an empirical paper, which explores the perceptions of healthcare professionals towards cancer screening and BRCA gene testing for females with a learning disability. Six healthcare professionals were interviewed. Thematic analysis was undertaken to analyse the data. Four themes emerged from the date: Unpreparedness, Role of Others, Communication, and Professional Discomfort. Both the research and clinical implications are discussed.Part Three is comprised of the corresponding appendices to the systematic literature review and empirical paper. Also included in this is the first author’s reflective statement and epistemological statement, which consider the experience of conducting the research and the researcher’s values and philosophical positio