Barriers to Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment: A Pilot Qualitative Study of Patient and Practitioner Perspectives in Rural India.

Autor:	Nagar A; Community Medicine, Dr. D. Y. Patil Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, Dr. D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be University), Pune, IND., Madamanchi D; Community Medicine, Dr. D. Y. Patil Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, Dr. D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be University), Pune, IND., Nair GR; Community Medicine, Dr. D. Y. Patil Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, Dr. D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be University), Pune, IND., Revikumar A; Community Medicine, Dr. D. Y. Patil Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, Dr. D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be University), Pune, IND., Ray S; Community Medicine, Dr. D. Y. Patil Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, Dr. D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be University), Pune, IND., Vajjala SM; Community Medicine, Dr. D. Y. Patil Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, Dr. D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be University), Pune, IND., B S A; Community Medicine, Dr. D. Y. Patil Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, Dr. D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be University), Pune, IND., Shivale S; Community Medicine, Dr. D. Y. Patil Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, Dr. D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be University), Pune, IND.
Jazyk:	angličtina
Zdroj:	Cureus [Cureus] 2024 Aug 19; Vol. 16 (8), pp. e67249. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Aug 19 (Print Publication: 2024).
DOI:	10.7759/cureus.67249
Abstrakt:	Introduction Cancer remains a critical global health issue, particularly in developing countries, where timely diagnosis and effective treatment are often hindered by numerous barriers. These obstacles exacerbate the cancer burden and contribute to disparities in care. This study explores the barriers to cancer diagnosis and treatment from the perspectives of patients and healthcare providers in rural India, aiming to inform targeted interventions and improve outcomes. Methods This qualitative study was conducted from April to May 2024 at a tertiary cancer hospital in rural Western Maharashtra, India. Nine semi-structured interviews were conducted with five cancer patients and four healthcare practitioners. Participants were selected through purposive sampling until information saturation was achieved. Interviews were conducted in local languages and analyzed using thematic analysis to identify key barriers and themes. Results The study identified several major themes related to barriers to cancer diagnosis and treatment. Patients highlighted a lack of awareness and understanding of cancer, significant financial burdens, challenges in accessing healthcare facilities, and emotional distress. Healthcare practitioners noted systemic issues, including inadequate diagnostic capabilities, insufficient healthcare infrastructure, and a shortage of specialized providers. Both groups emphasized the impact of cultural beliefs and stigma, as well as the limited support systems available to patients. Conclusion The findings highlight the complex interplay of factors contributing to delays in cancer diagnosis and treatment in rural India. Addressing these barriers requires multifaceted interventions, including increasing public awareness, improving healthcare infrastructure, and enhancing support systems for patients. Policy development should focus on these areas to reduce disparities and improve cancer care outcomes in resource-limited settings. Competing Interests: Human subjects: Consent was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. INSTITUTIONAL ETHJCS SUB-COMMITTEE, Dr. D. Y. Patil Medical College Hospital & Research Centre issued approval I.E.S.C. /464/2022. This is to certify that the synopsis (IESC/PGS/2022/208) titled “Barriers In Diagnosis and Treatment of Cancer - A Mixed Method Study." to be done by Dr. Akash Nagar under the guidance of Dr. J. S. Bhawalkar from Department of MD Community Medicine is ethically approved. The synopsis was approved by the Institutional Ethics Sul - Committee in its meeting held on 28/09/2022. Animal subjects: All authors have confirmed that this study did not involve animal subjects or tissue. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work. (Copyright © 2024, Nagar et al.)
Databáze:	MEDLINE
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