Health seeking behaviour, delayed presentation and its impact among oral cancer patients in Pakistan: a retrospective qualitative study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Delayed diagnosis of Oral Cancer (OC) can mean a difference in quality and expectancy of life for the patient. This delay could be from the healthcare side, or more importantly from the patient's side. Globally, there are studies enumerating the causes for delays from the patients' side in seeking healthcare for Oral Cancer; however, no similar research is found in the context of Pakistan. This study endeavoured to understand the health seeking behaviour, reasons for delay in consultation and the impact on OC patients' lives.

Methods

In-depth interviews were conducted with randomly selected OC patients at a private sector tertiary care facility in Islamabad (who met the inclusion criteria of having successfully been treated for Oral Cancer) which caters to the mos

SUBMITTER: Basharat S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6805330 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature