Peter B Wampaalu1, Lars E Eriksson2, Allen Naamala3, Rose C Nabirye1, Lena Wettergren4. 1. Department of Nursing, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda. 2. Department of Learning, Informatics, Management and Ethics, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden; Department of Infectious Diseases, Karolinska University H ospital, Stockholm, Sweden; School of Health Sciences, City University London, London, United Kingdom. 3. Uganda Cancer Institute, Kampala, Uganda. 4. Department of Neurobiology, Care Science and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Cancer is a global public health challenge and how patients in countries with poor healthcare infrastructure experience cancer treatment is largely unknown. PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to describe adult Ugandan cancer patients' experiences of undergoing chemotherapy treatment. METHODOLOGY: Using a qualitative descriptive design, seven in-patients with varying cancer diagnoses at the Uganda Cancer Institute were interviewed about their experiences of undergoing chemotherapy treatment; the interviews were transcribed and analysed thematically. RESULTS: The analysis resulted in nine subthemes, which were categorized under three main themes: 'experiences related to the body', with the subthemes dry and sensitive skin, changes in eating and bowel habits, fever and feelings of abnormal body sensation; 'thoughts and feelings', with four subthemes reflecting the psychosocial impact of chemotherapy; and 'actively dealing with discomfort', with three subthemes describing how patients dealt with side effects, such as by sticking to a diet. CONCLUSION: Receiving chemotherapy treatment is difficult, and the side effects negatively influenced patients' bodies and moods. Dealing actively with discomfort and accepting negative impacts in hope of a cure helped the participants manage the acute complications related to the treatment. We recommend the development of interventions to ease discomfort due to chemotherapy.
BACKGROUND:Cancer is a global public health challenge and how patients in countries with poor healthcare infrastructure experience cancer treatment is largely unknown. PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to describe adult Ugandan cancerpatients' experiences of undergoing chemotherapy treatment. METHODOLOGY: Using a qualitative descriptive design, seven in-patients with varying cancer diagnoses at the Uganda Cancer Institute were interviewed about their experiences of undergoing chemotherapy treatment; the interviews were transcribed and analysed thematically. RESULTS: The analysis resulted in nine subthemes, which were categorized under three main themes: 'experiences related to the body', with the subthemes dry and sensitive skin, changes in eating and bowel habits, fever and feelings of abnormal body sensation; 'thoughts and feelings', with four subthemes reflecting the psychosocial impact of chemotherapy; and 'actively dealing with discomfort', with three subthemes describing how patients dealt with side effects, such as by sticking to a diet. CONCLUSION: Receiving chemotherapy treatment is difficult, and the side effects negatively influenced patients' bodies and moods. Dealing actively with discomfort and accepting negative impacts in hope of a cure helped the participants manage the acute complications related to the treatment. We recommend the development of interventions to ease discomfort due to chemotherapy.
Authors: H M Penttinen; T Saarto; P Kellokumpu-Lehtinen; C Blomqvist; R Huovinen; H Kautiainen; S Järvenpää; R Nikander; I Idman; R Luoto; H Sievänen; M Utriainen; L Vehmanen; A S Jääskeläinen; A Elme; Johanna Ruohola; M Luoma; L Hakamies-Blomqvist Journal: Psychooncology Date: 2010-09-27 Impact factor: 3.894
Authors: T Peter Kingham; Olusegun I Alatise; Verna Vanderpuye; Corey Casper; Francis A Abantanga; Thaim B Kamara; Olufunmilayo I Olopade; Muhammad Habeebu; Fatimah B Abdulkareem; Lynette Denny Journal: Lancet Oncol Date: 2013-04 Impact factor: 41.316