Patients' perceptions of the announcement of cancer diagnosis in Morocco "Cancer patients cases treated in the Fez-Meknes Region"

Oussama Rharib; Radouane Saadi; Aziz Mengad; Merouane Ertel; Younes Bouferma; Khadija Saka; Mohammed Ababou

doi:10.4103/jehp.jehp_1385_23

Patients' perceptions of the announcement of cancer diagnosis in Morocco "Cancer patients cases treated in the Fez-Meknes Region"

J Educ Health Promot. 2024 Jul 11:13:224. doi: 10.4103/jehp.jehp_1385_23. eCollection 2024.

Authors

Oussama Rharib^{1

2}, Radouane Saadi^{1

2}, Aziz Mengad³, Merouane Ertel⁴, Younes Bouferma⁵, Khadija Saka^{6

7}, Mohammed Ababou¹

Affiliations

¹ Sociology and Psychology Laboratory, Faculty of Letters and Human Sciences Dhar El Mehraz, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, Fez, Morocco.
² Higher Institute of Nursing and Health Technology, Meknes, Morocco.
³ Centre for Doctoral Studies "Life and Health Sciences", Drug Sciences Formation, Laboratory of Pharmacology and Toxicology (LPTR), Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Rabat (FMPh), Morocco.
⁴ Department of Computer Science, Université Moulay Ismail, Meknes, Morocco.
⁵ Faculty of Economic and Social Legal Sciences, Université Moulay Ismail, Meknes, Morocco.
⁶ Multidisciplinary Faculty of Taza, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdelah University, Fez, Morocco.
⁷ Institute of Nursing and Health Technology (Ispits), Sociology and Psychology Laboratory, Faculty of Letters and Human Sciences Dhar El Mehraz, Sidi Mohamed, Fez, Morocco.

Abstract

Background: The announcement of a cancer diagnosis represents a real turning point, significantly and pessimistically changing the patient's vision of his future. The task of the healthcare professional in communicating bad news is complex. It requires careful use of words, establishing a relationship of trust, a patient approach, and encouraging the person affected by cancer to express their emotions. This is a sociological study of a series of cancer patient cases designed to reveal the different perceptions and experiences of cancer patients with regard to the announcement of the diagnosis of cancer by healthcare professionals.

Materials and methods: This descriptive qualitative study was done in 2022. The participants were selected from cancer patients cases treated in the Fès-Meknès Region. Participants in this study were 35 patients selected using a purposeful sampling method. Data were collected using in-depth semi-structured interviews. The qualitative content analysis approach was used to analyze the data using Atlas.ti software.

Result: A double suffering has been observed among cancer patients with regard to the announcement of their cancer diagnosis. In addition to the intensification of negative feelings and distress at the time of the announcement, dissatisfaction has been observed with the way in which the cancer diagnosis is communicated. The announcement does not address the holistic needs of the cancer patient, particularly with respect to health literacy. This finding is justified by limitations in relation to the basic training of the medical and nursing cops with regard to the announcement of the diagnosis.

Conclusion: This event represents a critical moment, requiring a multidisciplinary approach and involving various professionals involved in cancer management. Health professionals need to develop the skills necessary to accurately but smoothly announce a cancer diagnosis in order to maintain hope regardless of prognosis. Thus, an indispensable aspect to take into account in diagnostic communication is the cancer patient's level of literacy.

Keywords: Cancer; cancer announcement; cancer diagnosis; cancer patients; perceptions of cancer.