Experiences of patients undergoing chemotherapy - a qualitative study of adults attending Uganda Cancer Institute.
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.
Key words
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