Cheboi Solomon, Kariuki Peris, Mutai Joseph, Kibet Staline, Nyamanga Philemon
219920National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya.
Health Management and Informatics, 107864Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya.
J Oncol Pharm Pract. 2023 Apr;29(3):669-678. doi: 10.1177/10781552221078204. Epub 2022 Feb 8.
Holistic integrated community palliative care services remain a mirage to cancer patients. Nonetheless, a number of cancer patients are jamming traditional medicinal places seeking therapy. The results of these visits are undocumented. This study explored healthcare seeking behaviors and perspectives on cancer indigenous palliative care among patients visiting traditional health practitioners in Kenya.
A cross-sectional study was undertaken through client exit survey. Face to face interviews were conducted using semi-structured questionnaires with all consenting cancer patients exiting mapped outlets. Data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science Version 22.0.
A total of 433 respondents were interviewed and the majority were female 59.6%, Christians 97.2%, married 89.8% and educated 85.7%. Their mean age was 48.25 ± 15. 58. Education, sex and religion were significantly associated with perceived improvement. The predominant cancer types were breast cancer (22.4%); throat (14.8%), prostate (12.9%), bone (12.5%), cervical (9.9%), stomach (6.0%) and skin cancer (5.1%). The most frequently used traditional medicine was herbal medicine that was driven by unresponsive conditions (42.2%), inaccessible biomedical services (18.8%) and yearning for second opinion (18%) over a condition. Seventy six percent of the respondents reported improved and prolonged quality of life. 78.2% reported improved eating, drinking, standing, walking and doing light duties alone. Patients felt healthier, hopeful, happier, confident and bonded to their families.
Use of indigenous palliative care is predominant to all major cancer conditions and driven by the quest for cure, successful stories, trustworthiness and beliefs, previous experience and avoiding medical procedures such as surgery.
全面综合的社区姑息治疗服务对癌症患者来说仍是遥不可及的梦想。尽管如此，仍有许多癌症患者涌入传统医疗机构寻求治疗。这些就诊的结果却没有记录。本研究探讨了肯尼亚拜访传统医疗从业者的癌症患者的就医行为以及对癌症本土姑息治疗的看法。
通过客户出院调查进行横断面研究。使用半结构化问卷对所有从指定医疗机构出院且同意参与的癌症患者进行面对面访谈。数据采用社会科学统计软件包第22.0版进行分析。
共访谈了433名受访者，其中大多数为女性（59.6%）、基督教徒（97.2%）、已婚（89.8%）且受过教育（85.7%）。他们的平均年龄为48.25 ± 15.58岁。教育程度、性别和宗教与感知到的改善显著相关。主要的癌症类型为乳腺癌（22.4%）、咽喉癌（14.8%）、前列腺癌（12.9%）、骨癌（12.5%）、宫颈癌（9.9%）、胃癌（6.0%）和皮肤癌（5.1%）。最常使用的传统药物是草药，其原因是病情无反应（42.2%）、无法获得生物医学服务（18.8%）以及渴望就某种病情获得第二种意见（18%）。76%的受访者表示生活质量得到改善且得以延长。78.2%的受访者表示饮食、饮水、站立、行走及独自进行轻松工作的能力有所改善。患者感觉更健康、更有希望、更快乐、更自信且与家人关系更紧密。
本土姑息治疗在所有主要癌症病症中都占主导地位，其驱动因素包括寻求治愈、成功案例、可信度和信仰、既往经验以及避免手术等医疗程序。
