Healthcare workers, caregivers and patients’ insights into the cancer care journey in Lesotho

Abstract

Background: Global fear surrounding a cancer diagnosis persists. Recent advances in the medical diagnosis and treatment of cancer have influenced cancer survival rates. The quality of health care service to attain and sustain survival is receiving research attention. Patients’ experience of cancer care is one of the important evaluation attributes of quality health care.
Aim: The aim was to reveal patients’ and caregivers’ insights as well as healthcare professionals views regarding patients’ cancer care experience in Lesotho.
Setting: The study was undertaken at Senkatana Center of Excellence Oncology Clinic in Lesotho.
Methods: A qualitative study used the focus groups method for data collection and content analysis for data analysis.
Results: The study had revealed that the patients’ cancer care journey is challenging. The journey is characterised by unsatisfactory quality of health care service in health centres, the slow referral process, and limited patients’ knowledge constraining smooth care process. Moreover, financial challenges and inefficient support services were found to affect the quality of health care.
Conclusion: The role played by the human element in the delivery of quality cancer care has been highlighted. It is recommended that comprehensive cancer training for healthcare workers in the country be provided. Furthermore, cancer services should be distributed across various districts in the country in order to minimise challenges facing patients.
Contribution: The study has identified the cancer care service gap from primary care level, oncology centre and in the process of the foreign referral of the patients.