Healthcare and Institutional Barriers to Treatment for Patients with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity: A Qualitative Exploration

Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) is a biological condition involving neuroimmune mechanisms, marked by hypersensitivity to airborne chemical exposures that typically do not induce adverse effects in the general population. In healthcare settings, such exposures can impose barriers to surgical access for individuals with MCS and increase the risk of adverse reactions following exposure to inhaled substances during surgery. Misconceptions about MCS, often stemming from inadequate institutional knowledge and accommodations, compromise patient safety and reinforce stigma, underscoring the need for improving the quality of delivered treatments for MCS patients. Our research explored the lived experiences of individuals with MCS residing in Canada (primarily aged 50–60), focusing on how their condition is misunderstood and the factors that influence misconceptions about MCS. Seven focus group transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis in NVivo. One main category emerged from the analysis, centred on misconceptions influenced by policy and community factors. This category was divided into four themes: 1) Psychological misattribution of MCS, 2) Healthcare and Institutional Gaps, 3) Policy Barriers, Compliance, and Resistance, and 4) Commercial Influences and Misleading Practices. In relation to the subcategory, Healthcare and Institutional Gaps, participants described frequent misattribution of MCS as psychogenic, leading to mental health referrals and dismissal of physiological symptoms, lack of enforcement of scent-free policies, and a lack of training among healthcare workers in providing adequate treatment and support. These themes suggest a need for addressing unmet clinical needs and for system-wide improvements in regulating air quality control, provider education, evidence-based guidelines, and patient-centred practices.