P27 Psycho-social process underlying motivations to participate in a research study: a grounded theory study in patients with nonsmall cell lung cancer

Background and Objective: Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) represents 85% of lung cancers, and no standardized and well-studied rehabilitation approaches are available [1]. The willingness to participate in an experimental study and treatment compliance are critical issues that emerged in the conduct of clinical research, also in the rehabilitation field [2]. Aim of this study was to analyze the psychosocial process that occurs when it is proposed to patients with NSCLC to participate in a rehabilitation research project, and what brings them to join that. Materials and methods: This was a Grounded Theory qualitative study, part of a larger project (PuReAIR) aimed to analyze the effectiveness of a rehabilitative intervention in patients with NSCLC that is currently in place in the AUSL-IRCCS of Reggio Emilia. Subjects were recruited among those participating in the PuReAIR project, and subsequent snowball sampling was adopted. A semi-structured interview was used to investigate patients experience. Data were encoded by constructing of conceptual categories to build a theory. Results: A total of 9 subjects were included in this study. The analysis of the data revealed that the investigated process is based on two main categories: i) trust in science and ii) in the subject that proposes the study, reinforced by a strong perception of the established therapeutic relationship with the operators -in the foreground the Physiotherapists- and fed by the positive feedback. Conclusions: The proposal to participate in an experimental rehabilitative treatment, advanced immediately after the diagnosis of cancer, was welcomed by the patients. Being able to take advantage of a new therapy opportunity, that does not involve risks and that is perceived as help for oneself and others, are important elements for the patient, who can help in the decision to adhere to the experimentation.