Experience of communication among cervical cancer patients in Kenya

Abstract

Communication influences patient disclosure, treatment adherence, and outcome, adaptation to illness, and bereavement. Different cancer patients and caregivers communicate their various experiences in unique ways. These distinctive experiences are necessary to be told, because it empowers both the teller and everyone who hears and shares that experience. However, there is little research documenting the experiences of cervical cancer patients and caregivers in Kenya and the rest of Africa. This study therefore sought to assess the communication experience among cervical cancer patients and their caregivers. This study was a qualitative study employing the phenomenological method to obtain data from cervical patients and caregivers. It was carried out in Uasin Gishu County, Kenya, where a range of in-depth interviews were held with eight patients and eight caregivers purposively sampled. Data from the interviews were analysed thematically and presented in narrative form using paraphrases and quotations. Ethical issues such as informed consent, confidentiality and official authorisation were observed at all levels. To enrich this study, hermeneutic theory, which explains more about the individual's experience, was used. The findings of the study indicated that communication is therapeutic, although most of the patients and the caregivers were reluctant to talk about their illness. The findings of this study will be of interest to scholars, policy-makers and caregivers of terminally ill patients.

Psychosocial experiences of cancer survivors and their caregivers in sub‐Saharan Africa: A synthesis of qualitative studies

“…One participant explained how most treatments offered were not covered by insurance 21 . Survivors and their families eventually accumulated debt, which led to missing treatment 13,14,21 . “Because of financial challenges, I could not go for chemotherapy.…”

“…The ability to have strength and hope while remembering God is in control was a coping strategy 15,38 . Another common coping strategy was use of traditional healers, traditional herbalists, and spiritual acts and rituals 12–14,17,18,26,28,31 . In SSA, it is not uncommon for survivors and caregivers to use the following spiritual acts: reading the Bible, praying, and fasting 20,23,31 .…”

“…15,38 Another common coping strategy was use of traditional healers, traditional herbalists, and spiritual acts and rituals. [12][13][14]17,18,26,28,31 In SSA, it is not uncommon for survivors and caregivers to use the following spiritual acts: reading the Bible, praying, and fasting. 20,23,31 Cancer survivors relied on homemade remedies such as complementary alternative therapies and visits to the drug store to manage their cancer.…”

“…12 Caregivers experienced emotional distress that led to stress, fear, confusion, and anxiety at the time of diagnosis. 14,22,30 A limitation in the family's ability to manage physical pain that impacts a patients' psychological health added to the caregiver's emotional distress. "It has been a vigil night for us for the past few days, and we all were panicking.…”

“…I didn't know what to do after he complains even after giving him all his pain medicines" [Tears flowing] (daughter as caregiver). 14 Caregivers' high stress levels led them to provide fewer…”