title: Living with a high-grade glioma: A qualitative study of patients' experiences and care needs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Patients with high-grade glioma (HGG) face debilitating symptoms and a poor prognosis. The aims of this study were to better understand how patients with HGG experience life with a brain tumor, and to explore their professional care needs.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a qualitative research of HGG patients' experiences using semi-structured interviews and using a Grounded Theory approach. Participants were recruited during patients' hospital visits for treatment or follow-up at the University Hospitals Leuven, Belgium. Seventeen HGG patients were interviewed for the study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Interviews showed that HGG diagnosis left patients feeling like everything was surreal. From that point on, their life was marked by loss. HGG patients sometimes felt disregarded by family caregivers, professional caregivers, and the health care system. They felt as if they were on the "sidelines" of their own life. Despite the devastating experience of living with this type of brain tumor, HGG patients also expressed great inner strength, and they tried to maintain hope. Their pivotal professional care needs concerned information, communication, and accessibility.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Diagnosis of HGG changes life drastically. Our results highlight the need for professional caregivers to be more considerate and supportive of patients with this life-changing diagnosis. Additionally, professional caregivers need to acknowledge these patients as persons and strive to empower them in order to bolster their personal strength.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Medical Oncology, University Hospitals Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Wendy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Sterckx
authors.affiliation: Department of General Medical Oncology, University Hospitals Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; Center for Health Services & Nursing Research, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Kapucijnenvoer 35, 3000 Leuven, Belgium. Electronic address: annemarie.coolbrandt@uzleuven.be.
authors.forename: Annemarie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Coolbrandt
authors.affiliation: Department of General Medical Oncology, University Hospitals Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Clement
authors.affiliation: Department of General Medical Oncology, University Hospitals Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Sonja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Borgenon
authors.affiliation: Department of General Medical Oncology, University Hospitals Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Marleen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Decruyenaere
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospitals Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: De Vleeschouwer
authors.affiliation: Department of General Medical Oncology, University Hospitals Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mees
authors.affiliation: Center for Health Services & Nursing Research, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Kapucijnenvoer 35, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Bernadette
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dierckx de Casterlé
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001530:Belgium; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005910:Glioma / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D036301:Qualitative Research
keywords: Brain tumor; High-grade glioma; Patient experience; Qualitative research