Assessment of Adult Cancer Patients’ Opinion Towards Cancer Chemotherapy Related Information Needs in Tikur Anbessa Specialized Referral Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Date
2011-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Background: Many people have some type of altered cell growth such as moles and skin tag.
Most of altered cell growth are harmless (benign) and do not require intervention. Malignant cell
growth or cancer, however, is serious and, without intervention, leads to death. Even though,
providing care to clients and families experiencing cancer is complex and challenging, giving patients
with adequate information, advice and support around treatment is an important component of
care in which nurses play an important role. Patients desire different types and amounts of
information depending on their type of cancer, the extent of disease progression, and their unique
personal life circumstances.
Method: Institution based cross-sectional qualitative and quantitative descriptive study designs
were employed on 395 patients in Tikur Anbessa Specialized Referral Hospital from February
2011 to March 2011 with convenience sampling technique to explore cancer patients’ opinion
towards cancer chemotherapy related information needs. Data was collected by face-to-face and
through an in-depth interviews using structured and semi structured questionnaires. Cleaned and
coded data were entered to epi-info software and then exported into a Statistical Package for
Social Science Version 16 software for analysis purpose. Calculations of proportions were
recorded on frequency tables and cross tabulation were done for selected variables. Also
Pearson’s chi square test was calculated in order to show association between selected variables.
Qualitative data obtained through an in-depth interview was transcribed by arranging the record
according to forwarded questions and analyzed manually by identifying common themes.
Result: In this study, 395 study participants were involved; 385 for quantitative and 10 for
qualitative. Out of which 290 (73.42%) were females and 107(27.08%) were males. As a
qualitative result the majority of the participants had negative opinions towards cance
chemotherapy related information and quantitatively 144 (37.4%) study participants had neutral
opinions and 135 (35.1%) had negative opinions. Whereas, Only 106 (27.5%) of them had
reported positive opinions towards cancer chemotherapy related information. Majority of the
participants were believed that “unless age difference should be considered health education
should not be successful. Participants were also got insufficient information while they had
favorable attitude towards cancer chemotherapy related detailed information in the form of
booklets. Patients’ economic status and their specific diagnosis were found to have statistically
significant association with their level of opinion at p-value of .014 and .000 respectively.
Conclusion and Recommendation: The study showed that majority of the study participants
got less information related to cancer chemotherapy. To this reason, most of them did not know
what chemotherapy they have taken or currently taking. Regarding to this, nurses should get
communication training and trainings which helps them to show empathetic behavior to patients.
Key words: Cancer patients, Opinion, Chemotherapy, Information needs.
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Keywords
Cancer patients, Opinion, Chemotherapy, Information needs