Social toxicity among patients with cancer diagnosis in Saudi Arabia: A descriptive phenomenological qualitative study.

Abstract

151 Background: The objective of this study was to describe the social and financial experience of cancer patients throughout the continuum of their disease. Methods: A descriptive phenomenological qualitative study was conducted in the Oncology Department in King Abdulaziz Medical City in Saudi Arabia. Four focus groups, including 15 cancer patients (9 women and 6 men) and 11 care givers (5 females and 6 males), and face-to-face interviews among 29 healthcare workers including physicians, nurses, social workers, and health educators were conducted. All discussions were transcribed verbatim and entered into NVIVO software and themes were extracted and examined. Results: Focus group discussions and interviews revealed a range of social and financial themes such as experiencing fear of spousal abandonment, concerns of becoming a social and financial burden to the family, poor physical appearance, and hair loss for females. Experiencing depression, social isolation, fear of infertility, and fear of job loss for both genders. Males were mostly affected by facial hair loss and sexual dysfunction. An emerging theme regarding the elderly patient was neglect by family members and isolation from society with the intention of protecting them. Acceptability of disease and submission as an act of religiosity was a general positive feeling. Conclusions: This descriptive phenomenological qualitative study characterized the significant social and financial toxicities among patients with cancer diagnosis in Saudi Arabia. Such phenomena and context are expected to enable a deeper understanding of oncology professionals’ experiences in order to better deliver patient-centered care as a component of a holistic approach.