Health-seeking behaviour and delayed presentation of oral cancer patients in a developing country: A qualitative study based on the self-regulatory model
Background: The aim of this study was to explore reasons for delayed health-seeking for late stage oral cancer patients. Methods: Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with 35 oral cancer patients with TNM stage III to IV disease, who were treated at six tertiary regional centres managi...
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| Format: | Article |
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West Asia Organization for Cancer Prevention
2018
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| _version_ | 1796961625493733376 |
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| author | Azhar, Nurizyani Doss, Jennifer Geraldine |
| author_facet | Azhar, Nurizyani Doss, Jennifer Geraldine |
| author_sort | Azhar, Nurizyani |
| collection | UM |
| description | Background: The aim of this study was to explore reasons for delayed health-seeking for late stage oral cancer patients. Methods: Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with 35 oral cancer patients with TNM stage III to IV disease, who were treated at six tertiary regional centres managing oral cancer throughout Malaysia. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, coded using NVivo (version 10.0) qualitative software and analysed using framework analysis. Results: Participants interpreted their early symptoms as a minor condition and did not consider it as requiring immediate attention. Four types of coping strategies causing delayed help-seeking emerged: 1) self-remedy 2) self-medication 3) seeking traditional healers and 4) consulting general medical practitioners (GPs) instead of dentists. Socio-economic factors, cultural beliefs and religious practices have some influence on diagnostic delay. Conclusion: Low levels of public knowledge and awareness regarding early signs and symptoms of oral cancer as well as GPs' misdiagnosis of early lesions results in delayed diagnosis. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-06T05:56:55Z |
| format | Article |
| id | um.eprints-22418 |
| institution | Universiti Malaya |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-06T05:56:55Z |
| publishDate | 2018 |
| publisher | West Asia Organization for Cancer Prevention |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | um.eprints-224182019-09-18T04:17:25Z http://eprints.um.edu.my/22418/ Health-seeking behaviour and delayed presentation of oral cancer patients in a developing country: A qualitative study based on the self-regulatory model Azhar, Nurizyani Doss, Jennifer Geraldine RK Dentistry Background: The aim of this study was to explore reasons for delayed health-seeking for late stage oral cancer patients. Methods: Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with 35 oral cancer patients with TNM stage III to IV disease, who were treated at six tertiary regional centres managing oral cancer throughout Malaysia. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, coded using NVivo (version 10.0) qualitative software and analysed using framework analysis. Results: Participants interpreted their early symptoms as a minor condition and did not consider it as requiring immediate attention. Four types of coping strategies causing delayed help-seeking emerged: 1) self-remedy 2) self-medication 3) seeking traditional healers and 4) consulting general medical practitioners (GPs) instead of dentists. Socio-economic factors, cultural beliefs and religious practices have some influence on diagnostic delay. Conclusion: Low levels of public knowledge and awareness regarding early signs and symptoms of oral cancer as well as GPs' misdiagnosis of early lesions results in delayed diagnosis. West Asia Organization for Cancer Prevention 2018 Article PeerReviewed Azhar, Nurizyani and Doss, Jennifer Geraldine (2018) Health-seeking behaviour and delayed presentation of oral cancer patients in a developing country: A qualitative study based on the self-regulatory model. Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention, 19 (10). pp. 2935-2941. ISSN 1513-7368, DOI https://doi.org/10.22034/APJCP.2018.19.10.2935 <https://doi.org/10.22034/APJCP.2018.19.10.2935>. http://journal.waocp.org/article_69124_f1650f64b36658b7bf984d74899cfd27.pdf doi:10.22034/APJCP.2018.19.10.2935 |
| spellingShingle | RK Dentistry Azhar, Nurizyani Doss, Jennifer Geraldine Health-seeking behaviour and delayed presentation of oral cancer patients in a developing country: A qualitative study based on the self-regulatory model |
| title | Health-seeking behaviour and delayed presentation of oral cancer patients in a developing country: A qualitative study based on the self-regulatory model |
| title_full | Health-seeking behaviour and delayed presentation of oral cancer patients in a developing country: A qualitative study based on the self-regulatory model |
| title_fullStr | Health-seeking behaviour and delayed presentation of oral cancer patients in a developing country: A qualitative study based on the self-regulatory model |
| title_full_unstemmed | Health-seeking behaviour and delayed presentation of oral cancer patients in a developing country: A qualitative study based on the self-regulatory model |
| title_short | Health-seeking behaviour and delayed presentation of oral cancer patients in a developing country: A qualitative study based on the self-regulatory model |
| title_sort | health seeking behaviour and delayed presentation of oral cancer patients in a developing country a qualitative study based on the self regulatory model |
| topic | RK Dentistry |
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