Experiences of cervical cancer patients in rural Ghana: An exploratory study
Experiences of cervical cancer patients in rural Ghana: An exploratory study
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DOI：
10.1371/journal.pone.0185829
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发表时间：
2017-10-11
期刊：
影响因子：
3.7
通讯作者：
Awusabo-Asare, Kofi
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Binka, Charity;Doku, David Teye;Awusabo-Asare, Kofi
尽管宫颈癌在加纳是一种相当普遍的疾病，但几乎没有关于这种疾病的任何研究。本文旨在探讨宫颈癌患者的生活与疾病的经验，重点是他们对疾病的知识诊断前后。定性数据是通过对在加纳农村一家专门的癌症治疗保健机构接受治疗的宫颈癌患者进行深入访谈收集的。宫颈癌患者在被诊断出患有这种疾病之前，对这种疾病、其症状、危险因素、治疗和预防的知识不足。这些病人被诊断得很晚，因为他们通常在向卫生设施报告之前就到其他地方寻求治疗。他们在日常生活中经历了身体、心理、经济和社会方面的混乱，影响了他们的生活质量。很明显，缺乏对宫颈癌的认识对预防和治疗构成了威胁。通过大众媒体和社区健康促进外展进行密集的健康教育，可以确保加纳对宫颈癌有足够的了解。对宫颈癌患者的治疗和护理应包括咨询会议，其中应考虑到妇女所经历的不同程度的中断以及对其健康和病情管理的影响。
Even though cervical cancer is quite a prevalent disease in Ghana, there is hardly any study on this disease. This paper sought to explore the experiences of cervical cancer patients living with the disease with emphasis on their knowledge about the disease before and after the diagnosis. Qualitative data were collected through in-depth interviews with cervical cancer patients undergoing treatment in a specialised cancer treatment health facility in rural Ghana.Cervical cancer patients had inadequate knowledge about the disease, its symptoms, risk factors, treatment and prevention prior to being diagnosed of the disease. These patients were diagnosed late because they usually sought treatment elsewhere before reporting to health facilities. They experienced physical, psychological, economic and social disruptions in their daily lives, which affected their quality of life. It is evident that lack of knowledge about cervical cancer constitutes a threat to its prevention and treatment. Intensive health education through the mass media and community health promotion outreaches can be a sure way of creating adequate knowledge about cervical cancer in Ghana. Treatment and care for cervical cancer patients should incorporate counselling sessions, which should take into consideration the different levels of disruption the women experience and the implications for their wellbeing and management of the condition.