Psychosocial Distress and the Quality of Life of Cancer Patients in Rural Hospitals in Limpopo Province: A Qualitative Study
Background: The diagnosis and treatment of cancer are associated with substantial physical, psychological, and social morbidity for most patients. Distress can be seen as an unpleasant experience of an emotional, psychological, social, or spiritual nature that interferes with the ability to cope wit...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Current Oncology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1718-7729/32/1/43 |
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| author | Dorah Ursula Ramathuba Neo Jacqueline Ramutumbu |
| author_facet | Dorah Ursula Ramathuba Neo Jacqueline Ramutumbu |
| author_sort | Dorah Ursula Ramathuba |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: The diagnosis and treatment of cancer are associated with substantial physical, psychological, and social morbidity for most patients. Distress can be seen as an unpleasant experience of an emotional, psychological, social, or spiritual nature that interferes with the ability to cope with cancer treatment. Purpose: The aim was to understand patients’ experiences of distress in their context and to analyze and interpret the findings. Method: An explorative, descriptive qualitative study was conducted among cancer patients receiving treatment and care at rural hospitals in Limpopo. A face-to-face individual interview was conducted to determine the participants’ cancer-related experiences and quality of life. Thematic analysis was conducted following Tesch’s method, and the themes developed were subjected to a triangulation process to ensure the validity and rigor of the findings. Findings: The participants revealed experiences of symptomatic distress resulting in biopsychosocial distress such as pain, fatigue, emotional distress related to prognosis and uncertainty about the future, psychosocial distress related to a lack or absence of support, financial instability, and poor self-esteem. Conclusions: Cancer patients face many challenges during their treatment journey. Participants were drained by anxiety and uncertainty of the cancer trajectory and required psychosocial support. The oncology team must provide supportive preventive measures for side effects management and culture-sensitive psychotherapy at an early stage to improve their quality of life. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-43522738f2f048efa5b8cde61ac87cd5 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1198-0052 1718-7729 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Current Oncology |
| spelling | doaj-art-43522738f2f048efa5b8cde61ac87cd52025-01-24T13:28:28ZengMDPI AGCurrent Oncology1198-00521718-77292025-01-013214310.3390/curroncol32010043Psychosocial Distress and the Quality of Life of Cancer Patients in Rural Hospitals in Limpopo Province: A Qualitative StudyDorah Ursula Ramathuba0Neo Jacqueline Ramutumbu1Department of Advanced Nursing Science, University of Venda, P/Bag X5050, Thohoyandou 0950, South AfricaDepartment of Advanced Nursing Science, University of Venda, P/Bag X5050, Thohoyandou 0950, South AfricaBackground: The diagnosis and treatment of cancer are associated with substantial physical, psychological, and social morbidity for most patients. Distress can be seen as an unpleasant experience of an emotional, psychological, social, or spiritual nature that interferes with the ability to cope with cancer treatment. Purpose: The aim was to understand patients’ experiences of distress in their context and to analyze and interpret the findings. Method: An explorative, descriptive qualitative study was conducted among cancer patients receiving treatment and care at rural hospitals in Limpopo. A face-to-face individual interview was conducted to determine the participants’ cancer-related experiences and quality of life. Thematic analysis was conducted following Tesch’s method, and the themes developed were subjected to a triangulation process to ensure the validity and rigor of the findings. Findings: The participants revealed experiences of symptomatic distress resulting in biopsychosocial distress such as pain, fatigue, emotional distress related to prognosis and uncertainty about the future, psychosocial distress related to a lack or absence of support, financial instability, and poor self-esteem. Conclusions: Cancer patients face many challenges during their treatment journey. Participants were drained by anxiety and uncertainty of the cancer trajectory and required psychosocial support. The oncology team must provide supportive preventive measures for side effects management and culture-sensitive psychotherapy at an early stage to improve their quality of life.https://www.mdpi.com/1718-7729/32/1/43cancercancer patientsbiopsychosocial symptomspsychosocial distressuncertaintyquality of life |
| spellingShingle | Dorah Ursula Ramathuba Neo Jacqueline Ramutumbu Psychosocial Distress and the Quality of Life of Cancer Patients in Rural Hospitals in Limpopo Province: A Qualitative Study Current Oncology cancer cancer patients biopsychosocial symptoms psychosocial distress uncertainty quality of life |
| title | Psychosocial Distress and the Quality of Life of Cancer Patients in Rural Hospitals in Limpopo Province: A Qualitative Study |
| title_full | Psychosocial Distress and the Quality of Life of Cancer Patients in Rural Hospitals in Limpopo Province: A Qualitative Study |
| title_fullStr | Psychosocial Distress and the Quality of Life of Cancer Patients in Rural Hospitals in Limpopo Province: A Qualitative Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Psychosocial Distress and the Quality of Life of Cancer Patients in Rural Hospitals in Limpopo Province: A Qualitative Study |
| title_short | Psychosocial Distress and the Quality of Life of Cancer Patients in Rural Hospitals in Limpopo Province: A Qualitative Study |
| title_sort | psychosocial distress and the quality of life of cancer patients in rural hospitals in limpopo province a qualitative study |
| topic | cancer cancer patients biopsychosocial symptoms psychosocial distress uncertainty quality of life |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1718-7729/32/1/43 |
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