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Breast cancer is the most frequent cancer in women in Africa and contributes to premature death and poor quality of life. This study aimed to determine the validity, reliability, and psychometric properties of the Swahili version of EORTC QLQ-BR45 among women with breast cancer in Tanzania. A cross-sectional study design with non-probability convenience sampling was employed. Data were collected in two tertiary hospitals and one national cancer institute; 414 participants completed the EORTC-QLQ-C-30 and EORTC-QLQ-BR45. The reliability of QLQ-BR45 was measured using Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's Omega coefficients. The factor structure of EORTC QLQ-BR45 was assessed using confirmatory factor analysis. The internal consistencies for the five dimensions were all above 0.7 indicating satisfaction, except for systemic therapy side effects with a marginal value of 0.594 and significant correlations between the dimensions of QLQ-C30 and BR45. The final model fit well to the data, with the comparative fit index = 0.953, Tucker-Lewis index = 0.947, root mean square error of approximation = 0.041 (90% CI: 0.035, 0.046), and standardized root mean square residual = 0.072. In conclusion, the QLQ BR45 Swahili version displayed good reliability, validity, and psychometric properties and can be used in Swahili-speaking Sub-Saharan countries.
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Introduction: Breast cancer is increasing in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), and most women are diagnosed at a late stage. This leads to increased suffering for the patients and challenging care situations for nurses. Limited resources in healthcare, lack of oncology training, and low health literacy in society result in even more demanding situations for nurses. Objective: The objective was to explore nurses' experiences of caring women for with breast cancer in Tanzania. Methods: The study employed a descriptive qualitative design. Fifteen nurses, working in oncology units in three major hospitals in Tanzania were interviewed using a semistructured interview guide. The participants had a minimum of 6 months experience of caring for breast cancer patients. Purposive sampling was used. Data were analyzed by qualitative content analysis. Results: Two main themes emerged: Challenges in caring for breast cancer patients and Nurses' psychological distress. The late diagnosis was very challenging for the nurses. Low health literacy regarding breast cancer disease and treatment, patients' financial difficulties, minimal oncology nursing education, and technology in healthcare systems were also major challenges. The nurses experienced psychological distress, lost hope, and faced ethical dilemmas while providing cancer care. Conclusion: The findings of this study conclude that nurses face emotional distress and ethical dilemmas while caring for patients with breast cancer. Late diagnosis, lack of infrastructure and resources, and low health literacy among patients, family, and healthcare providers have a great impact on the stress that the nurses experience.
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Introduction: Cancer is a disease of public importance in Tanzania. Considering a limited health care system with few cancer centers and low health literacy in general, people are diagnosed at late stage and face difficulties in accessing care for their cancer. All these challenges affect the caring situation for the nurses who meet the patients at the cancer care centers. Objective: This study aimed to explore the journey of cancer care experienced by patients with cancer.Research questions:How do patients experience the quality of care at the cancer care centers?How do patients experience the family's and the community's role? Methods: Semi-structured qualitative interviews were carried out with 15 patients treated for colorectal-, breast-, or prostate cancer in three cancer care centers in Tanzania. A purposive sampling was used. Qualitative content analysis according to Graneheim and Lundman was employed. Results: Three main themes and six sub-themes emerged. The main themes were e xperiences of cancer care services, the role of the family, community challenges and cancer care. The sub-themes were communication, resource allocation at the cancer care centers, fmily's denial, family challenges, limitations of primary care and misconceptions, and accessibility of cancer service and the health care system. The findings show that patients experienced incapacitated health care facilities for cancer care, misconceptions in the community and challenges for the families. Conclusions: The quality of cancer care in Tanzania needs to be improved, patients face challenges in all levels of health care facilities, including families, and the community at large. The distance to oncology care, economic hardship, and lack of knowledge in the community including families, lead to late diagnosis and suffering for the patients. There is a great need for education regarding cancer within healthcare, as well as in the community, to change the situation for patients with cancer.
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BACKGROUND: Nursing journals from predatory publication outlets may look authentic and seem to be a credible source of information. However, further inspection may reveal otherwise. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to analyze publication and dissemination patterns of articles published in known predatory nursing journals. METHOD: Using Scopus, reference lists were searched for citations from seven identified predatory nursing journals. Bibliographic information and subsequent citation information were then collected and analyzed. FINDINGS: A total of 814 citations of articles published in predatory nursing journals were identified. Further analysis indicated that these articles were cited in 141 nonpredatory nursing journals of various types. DISCUSSION: Predatory nursing journals continue to persist, yet fewer may now be in existence. Education and information may help authors and reviewers identify predatory journals, thereby discouraging submissions to these publications and hesitancy among authors to cite articles published in them.
