Lived experience and attitudes of esophageal cancer patients toward stenting-based care at Asella referral hospital: a qualitative exploration from a resource-limited setting in South-Eastern Ethiopia.

backgroundEsophageal cancer is increasingly prevalent in Ethiopia, where late diagnosis and limited access to treatment impose substantial physical, emotional, and social burdens. In recent years, esophageal stenting has emerged as a palliative intervention to relieve dysphagia and improve quality of life. However, patients' experiences with stent placement remain poorly understood, despite their clinical and psychosocial significance. Thus, this study aims to explore the lived experiences and perceptions of esophageal cancer patients receiving stent-based care in south-eastern Ethiopia.

methodsA qualitative phenomenological study design was employed among twelve purposively selected esophageal cancer patients who had received stent-based care. Data were collected through in-depth interviews via semi structured questionnaires supplemented by memo writing and audio recordings. All the recorded interviews were transcribed verbatim and inductively coded via ATLAS.ti version 7.0.71 software. The data were then analysed following standard thematic framework analysis techniques.

resultsFour themes emerged from the participants’ responses: symptom recognition and the diagnostic journey, experiences living with esophageal cancer, impacts of the disease, and perceived benefits and challenges of stenting. The journey to diagnosis was characterized by symptom misinterpretation, barriers within the health system, financial constraints, and delayed diagnosis. Patients' lived experiences included severe physical suffering, nutritional challenges, emotional distress, social isolation, and economic hardship. The experience with stent treatment was defined by fear and uncertainty before the procedure, pain during insertion, and significant physical relief afterward. The perceived benefits and challenges of stenting include improved quality of life, ongoing concerns about cost, limited accessibility, and the need for service expansion.

conclusionIn addition to experiencing physical discomfort, the participants experienced psychological and economic burdens. The stenting procedure was regarded as a life-saving intervention that restored their ability to eat, improved their psychological well-being, and helped them reunite with their families, despite their recognition of the procedure as extremely painful. The findings highlight the importance of expanding diagnostic services, particularly in rural areas, providing psycho-social and financial support, and increasing access to stenting services via a patient-centered care approach to improve early detection, quality of life, and long-term outcomes for people with esophageal cancer.