Cancer Management and Research (May 2023)

Patient Perspectives and Side-Effects Experience on Chemotherapy of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Qualitative Study

  • Zubair HM,
  • Khan MA,
  • Gulzar F,
  • Alkholief M,
  • Malik A,
  • Akhtar S,
  • Sharif A,
  • Akhtar MF,
  • Abbas M

Journal volume & issue
Vol. Volume 15
pp. 449 – 460

Abstract

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Hafiz Muhammad Zubair,1 Muhammad Arslan Khan,2 Faisal Gulzar,1 Musaed Alkholief,3 Abdul Malik,3 Suhail Akhtar,4 Ali Sharif,5 Muhammad Furqan Akhtar,6 Muhammad Abbas7 1Faculty of Pharmacy, The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan; 2Department of Pharmacy Services, The University of Lahore Teaching Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan; 3Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 4Department of Biochemistry, A.T. Still University of Health Sciences, Kirksville, MO, USA; 5Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacy, Lahore College for Women University, Lahore, Pakistan; 6Riphah Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Riphah International University, Lahore Campus, Lahore, Pakistan; 7Riphah Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Riphah International University, Islamabad, PakistanCorrespondence: Hafiz Muhammad Zubair, Faculty of Pharmacy, The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan, Email [email protected]: This study aimed to explore patients’ experiences of palliative chemotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), how patients adapt to their new and challenging life after chemotherapy, their beliefs, and their quality of life.Patients and Methods: The study used an exploratory descriptive qualitative approach that was designed to explore the experiences and side effects of NSCLC patients on chemotherapy in Pakistan. The study was designed to obtain a deeper understanding of 22 NSCLC patients’ experiences, using a face-to-face approach and interviews were conducted. Patients who have completed chemotherapy agreed to participate in semi-structured interviews.Results: The data were arranged into five themes: hospital facilities and environment, patient’s beliefs in alternative treatments, presenting a positive/negative face, life is for living, and health insurance coverage. The major complaints related to bad experiences of chemotherapy-induced side effects, but these patients still managed to complete the full course of their respective chemotherapy. Additionally, the current study revealed the real experience of patients with NSCLC which had been less studied. The patient’s experience was summarized into four themes and several subthemes.Conclusion: This study aid healthcare providers when deciding on treatment options that will improve shared decision-making between clinicians and treatment outcomes.Keywords: chemotherapy, NSCLC, qualitative research, semi-structured interview

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