Dignity in Colorectal Cancer Care in Colombia from the Patient’s Perspective: A Phenomenological Study

Objective: To understand the meanings of the lived experience of people diagnosed with colorectal cancer in their daily lives and in relation to the healthcare they receive. Methods: The research was conducted in Medellín, 2018, from a phenomenological perspective and through the application of twelve in-depth interviews. Four emerging categories were analyzed: the red carpet for care; the labyrinths of access; resources to guarantee the right to health; and urgency as a measure to counteract delays. The work contributes to the understanding of these categories from the perspective of the patient suffering from the disease and how they perceive their experience with the healthcare system, complementing the knowledge of the phenomenon from a subjective perspective. Results: The access routes to care range from immediate, relevant, and barrier-free care to encountering administrative, economic, cultural, and geographical barriers, even those related to the quality of care. Conclusion: The findings regarding the disparity in access to healthcare based on socioeconomic status and type of health insurance coverage, as well as the system's structural shortcomings (procedures, delays, barriers to access), reveal the urgent need to prioritize early detection of colorectal cancer, but also the importance of promoting and providing timely care to limit the long-term effects and mortality from a disease with such a significant impact on public health and the healthcare system as a whole.