Facilitators and barriers to traditional medicine use among cancer patients in Malawi.
<h4>Background</h4>Increasing access to conventional cancer treatment (CT) in low-income countries (LICs) is an important public health initiative to address the global burden of cancer. However, LICs have a high prevalence of use of traditional and complementary medicine (T&CM). It...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2019-01-01
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| Series: | PLoS ONE |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0223853 |
| _version_ | 1828955129043222528 |
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| author | Jacob Hill Ryan Seguin Twambilile Phanga Agness Manda Maria Chikasema Satish Gopal Jennifer S Smith |
| author_facet | Jacob Hill Ryan Seguin Twambilile Phanga Agness Manda Maria Chikasema Satish Gopal Jennifer S Smith |
| author_sort | Jacob Hill |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <h4>Background</h4>Increasing access to conventional cancer treatment (CT) in low-income countries (LICs) is an important public health initiative to address the global burden of cancer. However, LICs have a high prevalence of use of traditional and complementary medicine (T&CM). It is important to consider the factors that influence a patient's choice to use T&CM, CT, or both for their cancer treatment.<h4>Methods</h4>We conducted focus groups among adult cancer patients in Lilongwe, Malawi to identify facilitators and barriers of T&CM use. Focus groups were recorded, transcribed, translated, and underwent thematic content analysis.<h4>Results</h4>Cultural norms, T&CM access, T&CM success, and CT failure were all identified as facilitators to T&CM use. CT success and T&CM failure were identified as barriers. Access and norms appear to determine initial treatment selection, while treatment outcomes dictate continued use of T&CM or CT.<h4>Conclusion</h4>This study identified a pragmatic and experience-based treatment selection process that aligns with the social cognitive theory of behavior and assists in comprehending the factors that influence T&CM use among cancer patients in a low resource setting. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T07:44:22Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3ef97a158ddc44a28760d29f32a105b4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1932-6203 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T07:44:22Z |
| publishDate | 2019-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS ONE |
| spelling | doaj.art-3ef97a158ddc44a28760d29f32a105b42022-12-21T23:10:56ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032019-01-011410e022385310.1371/journal.pone.0223853Facilitators and barriers to traditional medicine use among cancer patients in Malawi.Jacob HillRyan SeguinTwambilile PhangaAgness MandaMaria ChikasemaSatish GopalJennifer S Smith<h4>Background</h4>Increasing access to conventional cancer treatment (CT) in low-income countries (LICs) is an important public health initiative to address the global burden of cancer. However, LICs have a high prevalence of use of traditional and complementary medicine (T&CM). It is important to consider the factors that influence a patient's choice to use T&CM, CT, or both for their cancer treatment.<h4>Methods</h4>We conducted focus groups among adult cancer patients in Lilongwe, Malawi to identify facilitators and barriers of T&CM use. Focus groups were recorded, transcribed, translated, and underwent thematic content analysis.<h4>Results</h4>Cultural norms, T&CM access, T&CM success, and CT failure were all identified as facilitators to T&CM use. CT success and T&CM failure were identified as barriers. Access and norms appear to determine initial treatment selection, while treatment outcomes dictate continued use of T&CM or CT.<h4>Conclusion</h4>This study identified a pragmatic and experience-based treatment selection process that aligns with the social cognitive theory of behavior and assists in comprehending the factors that influence T&CM use among cancer patients in a low resource setting.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0223853 |
| spellingShingle | Jacob Hill Ryan Seguin Twambilile Phanga Agness Manda Maria Chikasema Satish Gopal Jennifer S Smith Facilitators and barriers to traditional medicine use among cancer patients in Malawi. PLoS ONE |
| title | Facilitators and barriers to traditional medicine use among cancer patients in Malawi. |
| title_full | Facilitators and barriers to traditional medicine use among cancer patients in Malawi. |
| title_fullStr | Facilitators and barriers to traditional medicine use among cancer patients in Malawi. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Facilitators and barriers to traditional medicine use among cancer patients in Malawi. |
| title_short | Facilitators and barriers to traditional medicine use among cancer patients in Malawi. |
| title_sort | facilitators and barriers to traditional medicine use among cancer patients in malawi |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0223853 |
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