ArticleBMJ open2025
What are the lived experiences of patients with cancer and their families in northern Ghana? A qualitative study using narrative interview and creative task approach.
Article in BMJ open, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
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Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- Breast Cancer Care in Ghana: A Review of the Continuum of Care and Progress Toward Universal Health Coverage.International journal of breast cancer · 2026Review
- Why do we need a shift to the transformative paradigm if we are to decolonise global health?Global health research and policy · 2025Article
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Authors and funding
11 authors.
Funding
Abstract
objectivesCancer poses a major burden in Ghana that is exacerbated by poor engagement with biomedical treatment. The reasons for this are not well understood for most cancers and in northern Ghana.
designThis research took combined narrative interviews with a creative task that was analysed through reflexive thematic analysis.
settingA tertiary treatment centre in northern Ghana.
participants15 adult (>18 years) patients or their relatives who had been diagnosed and/or treated for cancer within the last 2 years.
resultsThe thematic analysis highlighted the psychological burden of cancer and ways participants cope and find meaning, including through religion, trust in biomedical treatment, and occupation and social support. The findings stress the negative impact of the financial burden, shame, worry and the spiralling poverty this causes.The creative task was found to be resonant, emotive and more humanising, which is anticipated to be more effective when communicating with policy-makers and community members. The findings provide rich contextual insights to understand patients' and relatives' perspectives and frame their experiences within what was important to them.
conclusionsTogether the research has identified a critical need for policy to consider the psychosocial, occupational, spiritual and financial needs of patients with cancer in northern Ghana. It has demonstrated narrative interviews with graphical elicitation as an effective approach to discuss sensitive topics for findings that can engage stakeholders and inform holistic cancer service design.
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