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Experiences of patients undergoing chemotherapy - a qualitative study of adults attending Uganda Cancer Institute.
Wampaalu, Peter B; Eriksson, Lars E; Naamala, Allen; Nabirye, Rose C; Wettergren, Lena.
Affiliation
  • Wampaalu PB; Department of Nursing, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
  • Eriksson LE; 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.
  • Naamala A; Uganda Cancer Institute, Kampala, Uganda.
  • Nabirye RC; Department of Nursing, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
  • Wettergren L; Department of Neurobiology, Care Science and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden.
Afr Health Sci ; 16(3): 744-749, 2016 Sep.
Article in En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27917207
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.
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Full text: 1 Collection: 01-internacional Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Patient Satisfaction / Neoplasms Type of study: Qualitative_research Limits: Adult / Female / Humans / Male / Middle aged Country/Region as subject: Africa Language: En Journal: Afr Health Sci Journal subject: MEDICINA / SERVICOS DE SAUDE Year: 2016 Type: Article Affiliation country: Uganda

Full text: 1 Collection: 01-internacional Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Patient Satisfaction / Neoplasms Type of study: Qualitative_research Limits: Adult / Female / Humans / Male / Middle aged Country/Region as subject: Africa Language: En Journal: Afr Health Sci Journal subject: MEDICINA / SERVICOS DE SAUDE Year: 2016 Type: Article Affiliation country: Uganda