Moving towards a more humane and tailored diagnosis announcement: a workshop to join forces and develop future tools in Luxembourg

PNC2 Axis 3

Moving towards a more humane and tailored diagnosis announcement: a workshop to join forces and develop future tools in Luxembourg

On May 14, 2025, the Institut National du Cancer organized a participatory workshop bringing together patients and loved ones who had experienced the announcement of a cancer diagnosis. This afternoon of co-construction was part of the project carried out for Plan National Cancer 2 (PNC2), which began in 2024.

Prototypes based on real-life experiences

Based on 42 interviews conducted in 2024 with patients, relatives, and healthcare professionals, five concrete prototypes were developed to improve the experience of receiving a diagnosis:

Patient follow-up notebook

A personal document enabling patients to centralize key information about their care pathway.

Communication training for healthcare professionals

A program to better support doctors and healthcare providers in delivering diagnoses, which is often an emotionally difficult moment.

Strengthening case managers in oncology

A need expressed by all: to better support patients through the increased presence of dedicated professionals.

Time to decompress after the announcement

A pause to allow patients to catch their breath, ask questions, and better understand the announcement.

Announcement in several stages

A more gradual approach, allowing patients to assimilate the information at their own pace.

A collaborative dynamic between patients and professionals

A few weeks before this workshop, the same prototypes had been discussed during a similar session with healthcare professionals. These tools are designed to address the challenges shared by caregivers and patients.

What happens next?

Work continues with the next stages of the project:

  • Creation of tools based on the prototypes discussed.
  • Presentation of these tools to healthcare professionals and patients.
  • Adoption by professionals and patients in their practices and care pathways.
  • 2026: collection of feedback on their use.

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