ArticleBMC cancer2025
Experiences of patients with cervical cancer undergoing concurrent chemoradiation therapy at the Korle-Bu teaching hospital in Ghana: an explorative qualitative study.
Article in BMC cancer, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- Prevalence and Factors Associated With Financial Toxicity in Cervical Cancer Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study.Nursing open · 2026Article
- Analysis of the Development Trajectory and Influencing Factors of Depression in Patients With Cervical Cancer During Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy.Actas espanolas de psiquiatria · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundCervical cancer is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in women worldwide, especially in limited-resource settings. Concurrent chemoradiation followed by brachytherapy is the standard of care for patients with locally advanced cervical cancer. Concurrent treatment with external beam radiotherapy and chemotherapy is however, associated with a considerable risk of toxicity. Patients who are treated experience emotional, psychological, social, financial and physiological consequences. The aim of the study was to explore the experiences of women with cervical cancer undergoing concurrent chemoradiation therapy at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra, Ghana, and to identify aspects of care that could be improved to enhance their overall treatment experience.
methodsThe research was an explorative-descriptive qualitative study involving Ghanaian women with a histo-pathologically confirmed diagnosis of cervical cancer undergoing chemoradiation. Qualitative data were collected via semi-structured in-person interviews and thematically analysed.
resultsFour main themes were identified, namely: "deciding on the choice of treatment", "cruising through therapy", "losing self-image", and "evolving into a new person: from caterpillar to butterfly". Some of the patients experienced psychological effects such as fear and depression, whereas others encountered financial difficulties as well as disruption of social relations to the point of isolation. Many patients received support from their spouses, family members and/or care givers.
conclusionsThe study highlights significant gaps in cervical cancer awareness among patients prior to diagnosis, leading to fear and anxiety during treatment. Most patients deferred treatment decisions to healthcare professionals due to their expertise. Concurrent chemotherapy profoundly affects patients' well-being, causing psychological distress, physical side effects, economic burden, and social isolation. Patients adopt various coping strategies, including inner resolve, faith in God, and social support.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.