Lived Experience of Women with Gestational Trophoblastic Neoplasia Treated with Chemotherapy in Selected Hospitals, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2023/24: Qualitative Study
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Date
2024-06-23
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Introduction: Gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) is a cancer related to pregnancy that contributes to maternal morbidity and increases the risk of maternal mortality if not detected and treated early. GTN is generally curable with chemotherapy; however, patients may experience different adverse effects of chemotherapy, including physical and nonphysical adverse effects. In Ethiopia, there are different studies done on the magnitude of GTN, but the experiences of women with GTN treated with chemotherapy about the life changes they faced, supportive care conditions, and coping techniques used are not explored.
Objectives: This study aims to explore the experiences of women with GTN during and after treatments with chemotherapy in selected hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2023/24.
Methods: A descriptive, phenomenological, qualitative design was used from February to March 2024, in SPHMMC and TASH among purposively selected survived women with GTN treated with chemotherapy. Data was collected by using face-to-face in-depth interviews. Then, it was transcribed verbatim and translated into English. After that, it was imported to ATLAS.ti 9 software to aid the coding process. To analyze the data, we used both inductive and deductive thematic analysis. The study results were presented through thick and in-depth narration and by using direct quotes from participants' statements to describe the main themes.
RESULT: Five major themes emerged from the data analysis, both inductively and deductively with 12 women. Deductively emerged themes were life changes women with GTN experienced, supportive care conditions, and coping techniques women used. Whereas inductively emerged themes were women’s lack of awareness and emotional reaction to GTN and their perspectives on what’s needed as a priority and improvement related to the treatment process.
Conclusion and recommendation: There was a lack of awareness about GTN, and women's lives faced different changes during and after treatment. So, good supportive care, effective coping techniques, and concerns about medications and lab investigation unavailability needed to be prioritized and improved during the treatment process to cope with these adverse effects, get good benefits from their anticancer treatment, and improve the quality of life. This study recommends creating pre-chemotherapy educational programs, social support groups, individual effective coping techniques, and training for health care providers to increase awareness about GTN.
Keywords: Experience, Gestational trophoblastic neoplasia, chemotherapy, women.
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Keywords
Experience Gestational trophoblastic neoplasia chemotherapy women