Impact of cancer diagnosis and treatment: a qualitative analysis of strains, resources and coping strategies among elderly patients in a rural setting in Ghana

BMC Geriatrics

Research

Kofi Boamah Mensah¹  Joe-Nat Clegg Lamptey²  Adwoa Bemah Boamah Mensah³  Felix Apiribu³  Abena Agyekum Poku⁴  Joshua Okyere⁵  Er-Menan Amaniampong⁶  Maurice Mikare⁷ 

[1]Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, University Post Office, Private Mail bag, Kumasi, Ghana

[2]Department of Surgery, University of Ghana Medical School, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana

[3]Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana

[4]School of Nursing & Midwifery, College of Health Sciences, Private Mail bag, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, University Post Office, Kumasi, Ghana

[5]School of Nursing & Midwifery, College of Health Sciences, Private Mail bag, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, University Post Office, Kumasi, Ghana

[6]Department of Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, P. O. Box, 1934, Kumasi, Ghana

[7]School of Nursing & Midwifery, College of Health Sciences, Private Mail bag, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, University Post Office, Kumasi, Ghana

[8]Department of Population and Health, University of Cape Coast, University Post Office, Cape Coast, Ghana

[9]School of Nursing & Midwifery, College of Health Sciences, Private Mail bag, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, University Post Office, Kumasi, Ghana

[10]Department of Sociology and Social Work, Faculty of Social Sciences, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, University Post Office, Private Mail bag, Kumasi, Ghana

[11]School of Nursing & Midwifery, College of Health Sciences, Private Mail bag, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, University Post Office, Kumasi, Ghana

[12]Nursing and Midwifery Training College - Zuarungu, P. O. Box 660, Bolgatanga, Ghana

关键词: Cancer;    Coping strategies;    Elderly;    Resources;    Strain;    Qualitative research;    Ghana;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12877-023-04248-8

 received in 2022-12-12, accepted in 2023-08-21,  发布年份 2023

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundRurality is fraught with numerous difficulties including a lack of advanced health facilities to provide health services, and an absence of specialist cancer services, and qualified personnel, among others. These factors exacerbate the challenges of elderly patients diagnosed with cancer and further pose limitations to activities/instrumental activities of daily living. Yet, there is limited scholarship on the strains that affect elderly patients diagnosed with cancer and the resources that helps them to overcome them. This study explores the strains, resources, and coping strategies of elderly patients diagnosed with cancer and undergoing treatment in rural Ghana.MethodsAn exploratory, descriptive qualitative design was adopted. Purposive sampling was used to recruit 20 individuals to participate in in-depth interviews. The collected data was analysed inductively using Collaizi’s framework. QSR NVivo-12 was used in managing the data.ResultsThe results were grouped into two main categories, namely: strains and resources. Within the category of strains, three main themes with their corresponding sub-themes emerged: cancer-related strains (systemic side effects from treatment, altered physical appearance and body image, and experience of pain), elderly strains (altered functional ability, limited social interactions and participation, psycho-emotional reactions, limited/restricted economic participation, and financial strains), and health system strains (negative attitude and insensitive communication, delay in diagnosis, lack of geriatric oncology care, lack of community-based specialist cancer centre and long travel distance to access care, and limited availability of essential cancer medicines and other radiations services). Four types of resources were available to cancer patients: personal resources, family resources, community resources, and healthcare systems resources.ConclusionIn conclusion, elderly patients diagnosed with cancer experience physical, economic, psychological, and emotional strains that threaten their health and well-being. However, they are able to leverage family, community, and health system-related resources to navigate through the strains. There is, therefore, a need to expand advanced health facilities with geriatric oncology units and specialists to improve access to cancer care in rural areas. The government needs to assist elderly persons with costs associated with their diagnosis and treatment through the expansion of the National Health Insurance Scheme to include this as part of the benefits package.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© BioMed Central Ltd., part of Springer Nature 2023

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