ArticleSupportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer2026
Experiences and challenges of North Korean defectors with cervical cancer: a qualitative study using thematic analysis.
Article in Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
2 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
purposeThis study aims to investigate the illness experiences of North Korean defector women diagnosed with cervical cancer, focusing on their interactions with healthcare systems and coping strategies to identify their unmet needs and provide insights for improving supportive care tailored to their sociocultural context.
methodsWe conducted 11 individual face-to-face in-depth interviews based on a qualitative research design and analyzed the data thematically.
resultsSix key themes emerged: (a) cancer as a consequence of prolonged sacrifice and neglect, (b) powerlessness during immediate treatment, (c) transformations in self and body image, (d) sense of loss of intimacy and sexual desire, (e) South Korea as a second homeland offering new life, and (f) moving toward a healthier life.
conclusionsNorth Korean defectors faced multifaceted challenges with cervical cancer, including difficulties in navigating unfamiliar healthcare systems, psychosocial distress, and profound changes in body image and sexual desire. Addressing communication barriers and implementing culturally sensitive support are essential to enhance their healthcare experiences. Tailored interventions that recognize the impact of cancer on self-perception and intimacy are necessary to improve health outcomes and overall well-being in this vulnerable population. These findings can inform research, guide culturally sensitive policies, and shape supportive care programs for North defectors with cervical cancer.
Indexed as
Identifiers
42690438What 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.