Dandadzi, A, Chapman, E orcid.org/0000-0003-2859-2020, Chirenje, ZM et al. (4 more authors) (2022) Patient experiences of living with cancer before interaction with palliative care services in Zimbabwe: a qualitative secondary data analysis. European Journal of Cancer Care, 31 (5). e13632. ISSN 0961-5423
Abstract
Objective
Cancer patients in Zimbabwe typically access health services with advanced disease, limiting treatment choices and lessening the likelihood of positive treatment outcomes. We outline experiences of patients with advanced cancer prior to interaction with palliative care services to identify targets for future intervention development to enhance care delivery in Zimbabwe.
Methods
Participants were purposively sampled adult patients with advanced cancer. We adopted a thematic approach to guide a qualitative secondary data analysis exploring factors influencing support sought by participants, external factors influencing decision making across the disease trajectory and the process for seeking and accessing palliative care.
Results
Participants reported fragmented and uncoordinated care, from initial symptom experience and throughout disease progression. A recurring notion of disjuncture was present through participants' experiences of gaps, breaks and discontinuity across the disease trajectory. Each step had a beginning and end without clear routes for transition with movement between steps as a result of happenstance or informal encounters.
Conclusion
Targets for intervention development at the patient and family level exist that may reduce the disjuncture currently experienced between need and care provision. A holistic response that incorporates engagement with policy actors is critical to addressing prominent financial constraints for patients.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2022 The Authors. European Journal of Cancer Care published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. |
Keywords: | access; evaluation; health care quality; neoplasms; palliative care; qualitative research; Zimbabwe |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Medicine and Health (Leeds) > School of Medicine (Leeds) > Leeds Institute of Health Sciences (Leeds) > Academic Unit of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences (Leeds) |
Funding Information: | Funder Grant number MRC (Medical Research Council) MR/S014535/1 |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 08 Jun 2022 11:46 |
Last Modified: | 04 Mar 2023 13:54 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Wiley |
Identification Number: | 10.1111/ecc.13632 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:187697 |