Cancer Patients' Negotiation of Therapeutic Options in Pakistan

Tovey, Philip; Broom, Alex

doi:10.1177/1049732307299994

Cited by 11 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…Religion is an important contextual dimension to decision-making (Tovey and Broom 2007). According to Kleinman's work on the ''cultural construction of clinical reality,'' religion can influence a patient's health and health-seeking behaviors (Padela and Curlin 2012).…”

Section: Religious Beliefsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Why Cancer Patients Seek Islamic Healing

2015

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Islamic healing is frequently referred to as the treatment of choice by many Muslim cancer patients in Malaysia. Despite its widespread use, there is limited information relating to patients' healing preferences. With rising cancer rates in the country, this issue has become a concern to public health policy makers. The purpose of this study was to understand why cancer patients seek Islamic healing. This qualitative study utilized in-depth interviews with 18 cancer patients. The findings indicate three main reasons: (1) recommendations from family, friends and doctors; (2) belief in Islamic healing and (3) the perceived ineffectiveness and dissatisfaction with conventional treatments. Islamic healing will likely continue to be popular complementary cancer treatment in Malaysia as it is grounded in strong cultural and religious beliefs.

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Section: Religious Beliefsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Why Cancer Patients Seek Islamic Healing

2015

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“…Previous research has shown that biomedical clinicians' approaches to alternative therapeutic modalities are varied in other socio-cultural contexts (Hsiao et al, 2006) and have very real implications for both the client-practitioner relationship and the quality of care given to the patient. Likewise, gaining an understanding of the complex relationships between different traditional and biomedical therapeutic modalities is crucial for helping to improve the care given to cancer patients in Pakistan (see also Tovey and Broom, 2007).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Th is work has generally focused on the ways in which professional groups utilise particular discursive and practical strategies to establish and maintain a particular position in relation to other actors (e.g. Broom and Tovey, 2007;Dew, 2000aDew, , 2000bNorris 2001;Shuval, Mizrachi & Smetannikov, 2002). Such issues have become increasingly important over the last two decades during which biomedicine has experienced a relative waning in public support -a waning coinciding with an increasing presence of, and popularity of, CAM (e.g.…”

Section: Theorising the Role And Position Of Traditional Medicinementioning

confidence: 99%

Inter-Professional Conflict and Strategic Alliance Between Traditional Healers and Oncologists in Pakistan

Broom

Tovey

2007

Asian J Soc Sci

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There are increasing calls from global health organisations for the promotion of traditional medicines (TM) as one method of addressing the health needs of populations in poorer countries. However, little research has been done to explore the interactions (and potential conflicts between) traditional healthcare systems and biomedical services. Drawing on semi-structured interviews with 46 cancer patients in Lahore, Pakistan, this article examines patients' experiences of the inter-professional dynamics associated with the range of traditional and biomedical cancer treatments. Results illustrate a complex set of 'cross sectoral' relationships. On the one hand, significant professional distancing was identified between certain traditional healers and biomedical clinicians, as was the deployment of discursive and regulatory gate-keeping tactics at a grassroots level. However, there was also evidence of selective strategic alliance between one traditional practice — Dam Darood , and biomedicine; a relationship deeply embedded in shared religious beliefs and their seemingly compatible therapeutic objectives. It is concluded that, for the development of culturally-appropriate health policy, there is the need for a multifaceted understanding of the socio-cultural processes underpinning the relationships between different treatment modalities.

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“…Furthermore, interventions developed in HICs rarely prioritise accessibility for individuals with low levels of literacy or take into account reasons for delayed healthcare-seeking behaviours in LMICs, such as perceptions of the financial burden of cancer treatment, reliance on spiritual healing/herbal medicines, perceived stigma of BC, and social discrimination (Mamoon et al 2009;Banning and Hafeez 2009;Bottorff et al 2007;Khan et al 2015). Communication of HBC is further complicated for HCPs in Pakistan by suboptimal or missing patient pathways from primary to secondary services, reliance on patient initiative to seek secondary healthcare, and financial constraints (Tovey and Broom 2007;Hameed Khaliq et al 2019;Hameed Khaliq et al 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pakistani healthcare professionals’ perceptions of communication with patients and their relatives about hereditary breast cancer: a qualitative study in a LMIC

Ahmed

Jafri

Ahmed³

et al. 2023

J Community Genet

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Pakistan has the highest incidence and mortality rates of breast cancer in Asia, with high numbers of patients diagnosed at a young age suggesting the possibility of an inherited cancer syndrome. Communication of hereditary breast cancer (HBC) risk information with patients could enable earlier detection of the condition in relatives and reduce mortality rates. This study aimed to explore perceptions of healthcare professionals (HCPs) in Pakistan about communication with patients and their relatives about HBC. Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with eighteen HCPs during March to May 2020 in Lahore. Thematic analysis shows the HCPs were generally supportive of informing patients themselves about HBC, but believed it was the patients’ role to inform their relatives. HCPs also highlighted important barriers to communication with patients about HBC, including (i) patients’ low socioeconomic status and educational attainment; (ii) high prevalence of the social stigma of breast cancer; and (iii) lack of health resources and facilities to provide genetic testing for HBC. In conclusion, HCPs would value the development of interventions to support communication between HCPs and patients. They also highlighted the need for interventions to support intrafamilial communication about HBC. Much research and political support are needed to address patient, social, and systemic-level barriers to facilitate communication about HBC.

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Cancer Patients' Negotiation of Therapeutic Options in Pakistan

Cited by 11 publications

References 23 publications

Why Cancer Patients Seek Islamic Healing

Why Cancer Patients Seek Islamic Healing

Inter-Professional Conflict and Strategic Alliance Between Traditional Healers and Oncologists in Pakistan

Pakistani healthcare professionals’ perceptions of communication with patients and their relatives about hereditary breast cancer: a qualitative study in a LMIC

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