The Experience of Cancer Stigma in Taiwan: A Qualitative Study of Female Cancer Patients

Tang, Pei-Ling; Mayer, Deborah K.; Chou, Fan‐Hao; Hsiao, Kuan-Yin

doi:10.1016/j.apnu.2015.08.015

Cited by 47 publications

(42 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…Results confirmed that patients' social life are affected by others' attitudes at the beginning of the diagnosis (19). Even the expectation of social stigma, especially from family members and friends can be related to the reduction of quality of life in patients with chronic diseases (20).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 63%

Investigation of Stigma Phenomenon in Cancer: A Grounded Theory Study

et al. 2017

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Background: Adjustment to cancer as a stressful event is affected by bio-psycho-social factors. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate stigma phenomenon, the process of formation, and its impact on cancer patients and their families. Methods: This research was conducted based on the grounded theory study. Semi-structured interview was used with 12 cancer patients (7 women and 5 men), one of the immediate family members (spouse, parent or sibling) and 8 oncology staff members. Participants were selected in a purposeful non-probability sampling method and data analysis was performed in three steps: open coding, axial coding and selective coding. Results: Four conceptual categories with sub-categories were emerged through three-step analysis of the grounded theory study: social stigma, self-stigma, coping strategies and acceptance as a main concept. Results showed gradual process of stigma formation to cancer and its different dimensions. Conclusions: Comprehensive assessment of stigma through various information sources may provide a deep understanding of this phenomenon in social context. The results of this study may lead to development of effective therapeutic protocols for promotion of community awareness, and improvement of mental health levels in patients and their families by eliminating all dimensions of this phenomenon in the context of society.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 63%

Investigation of Stigma Phenomenon in Cancer: A Grounded Theory Study

et al. 2017

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“…Other studies have also supported this finding that stigma surrounding cancer presented barriers to treatment and care. The social, emotional and financial devastation that accompanies the diagnosis of cancer is driven by cultural myths and taboos surrounding the disease [6,[20][21][22].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Studies in developed settings have also reported that patients with advanced diseases were referred to hospices or nursing homes when they could not stay in their homes. However, other studies have shown that the quality of life of patients who are kept in hospices or nursing homes is lower than those who stay with their families at home [6,[21][22][23]. While the government of Zimbabwe has rolled out the palliative strategy framework, more resources and priorization are required to fully implement the policy.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Limited knowledge and access to palliative care among women with cervical cancer: an opportunity for integrating oncology and palliative care in Zimbabwe

Tapera

Nyakabau

2020

BMC Palliat Care

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Background: Cervical cancer is mostly diagnosed at advanced stages among the majority of women in low-income settings, with palliative care being the only feasible form of care. This study was aimed at investigating palliative care knowledge and access among women with cervical cancer in Harare, Zimbabwe. Methods: Sequential mixed methods design was used, consisting of two surveys and a qualitative inquiry. A census of 134 women diagnosed with cervical cancer who visited two cancer treating health facilities and one palliative care provider in Harare between January and April, 2018 were enrolled in the study. Seventy-eight health workers were also enrolled in a census in the respective facilities for a survey. Validated structured questionnaires in electronic format were used for both surveys. Descriptive statistics were generated from the surveys after conducting univariate analysis using STATA. Qualitative study used interview/discussion guides for data collection. Thematic analysis was conducted for qualitative data. Results: Mean ages of patients and health workers in the surveys were 52 years (SD = 12) and 37 years (SD = 10,respectively. Thirty-two percent of women with cervical cancer reported knowledge of where to seek palliative care. Sixty-eight percent of women with cervical cancer had received treatment, yet only 13% reported receiving palliative care. Few women with cervical cancer associated treatment with pain (13%) and side effects (32%). More women associated cervical cancer with bad smells (81%) and death (84%). Only one of the health workers reported referring patients for palliative care. Seventy-six percent of health workers reported that the majority of patients with cervical cancer sourced their own analgesics from private pharmacies. Qualitative findings revealed a limited or lack of cervical cancer knowledge among nurses especially in primary health care, the existence of stigma among women with cervical cancer and limited implementation of palliative policy. Conclusions: This study revealed limited knowledge and access to palliative care in a low-income setting due to multifaceted barriers. These challenges are not unique to the developing world and they present an opportunity for lowincome countries to start considering and strategizing the integration of oncology and palliative care models in line with international recommendations.

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“…180 Simple tools to understand patients and families priorities and aid communication have been developed, and undergone preliminary testing and many be promising to improve this situation. 197 Stigmas about cancer are common and present significant challenges to treatment and care, [198][199][200] including to palliative care and its integration with oncology. Stigma can have a silencing effect.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The social, emotional, and financial devastation that all too often accompanies a diagnosis of cancer is, in large part, due to the cultural myths and taboos surrounding the disease. [198][199][200] There are several reasons that cancer and within this palliative care may be stigmatized. 201,202 Symptoms or body parts affected by cancer can cultivate stigma.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Integration of oncology and palliative care: a Lancet Oncology Commission

Kaasa

Loge

Aapro

et al. 2018

The Lancet Oncology

575

539

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Presence of palliative care inpatient consultation team Presence of palliative care outpatient clinic Presence of community based / home palliative care Clinical processes (*) Presence of multidisciplinary specialized palliative care team Routine symptom screening in the outpatient oncology clinic Administration of systemic cancer therapy (e.g. chemo and targeted agents) possible in patients admitted to PC service oncology-and palliative care as well as their cultures. Local variations in terms of resources and practices also probably play a role. By acknowledging integration of oncology and PC as a complex process including different parts of the health care system, both horizontally and vertically, and also involving the patient, we propose SCPs as a means for future efforts to promote integration. For the same reasons, this paper will address integration in different panels. Each panel will address different aspects of integration, ranging from how to focus on the patient, to societal changes and new research areas. Introduction of panels Policy-challenges and frameworks Societal challenges Prognostication Patient-centredness-content methodology and clinical implications Models of palliative care integration The role of education: challenges and recommendations Research The commission is an international collaboration between 30 experts in oncology, PC, public health and psycho-oncology. In October 2016 a kick-off meeting was held in Milan where panel leaders were appointed, the structure of the commission was decided, and a plan for the work was agreed upon. During the two following years each panel expanded with experts within the relevant field, conducted topical literature searches, and an interactive writing process was conducted. Both administrative and academic organization were run from Norway, by Stein Kaasa, Jon Håvard Loge and Tonje Lundeby. Policy-challenges and frameworks Questions to be addressed What type of recommendations is given for integration at the national and international level on policy and public health at present? What are the current examples of different practices in organization of palliative care in different national policies in European countries? What kind of policies and approaches are needed for integration of oncology and palliative care? Patient-centredness-content, methodology and clinical implications Questions to be addressed What is patient-centredness? What are the main elements of patient-centred care in practice? How do we involve the family? Communication-a necessary tool for patient-centred care What are the barriers and solutions to succeed? Research Questions to be addressed What are some opportunities and challenges for integrating oncology and palliative care teams to conduct research together? What are some key research priorities related to integration of palliative care and oncology? What are some key research priorities related to symptom assessment and treatment? What are some key research priorities related to psychosocial support, communication and dec...

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The Experience of Cancer Stigma in Taiwan: A Qualitative Study of Female Cancer Patients

Cited by 47 publications

References 28 publications

Investigation of Stigma Phenomenon in Cancer: A Grounded Theory Study

Investigation of Stigma Phenomenon in Cancer: A Grounded Theory Study

Limited knowledge and access to palliative care among women with cervical cancer: an opportunity for integrating oncology and palliative care in Zimbabwe

Integration of oncology and palliative care: a Lancet Oncology Commission

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