Ascertaining breast cancer patient experiences through a journey map: A qualitative study protocol

Background The current cancer care system must be improved if we are to have in-depth knowledge about breast cancer patients' experiences throughout all the stages of their disease. Aim This study seeks to describe breast cancer patients' experience over the course of the various stages of illness by means of a journey model. Methods This is a qualitative descriptive study. Individual, semi-structured interviews will be administered to women with breast cancer and breast cancer survivors. Patients will be recruited from nine large hospitals in Spain and intentional sampling will be used. Data will be collected by means of a semi-structured interview that was elaborated with the help of medical oncologists, nurses, and psycho-oncologists. Data will be processed adopting a thematic analysis approach. Discussion The outcomes of this study will afford new insights into breast cancer patients' experiences, providing guidance to improve the care given to these individuals. This protocol aims to describe the journey of patients with breast cancer through the healthcare system to establish baseline data that will serve as the basis for the development and implementation of a patient-centered, evidence-based clinical pathway.