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A qualitative study of Ghanaian pediatric oncology nurses' care practice challenges
Ruth Nimota Nukpezah1, Fatemeh Khoshnavay Fomani2, Marzieh Hasanpour3
1Department of Pediatric Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, International Campus-Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Insights
Pediatric oncology nurses in Ghana face challenges including time-consuming care, low motivation, and inadequate resources. Addressing these issues is crucial for improving childhood cancer care.
Area of Science:
- Nursing
- Oncology
- Global Health
Background:
- Pediatric cancer presents global health challenges.
- Nurses in pediatric oncology experience significant work-related difficulties.
- Existing evidence on these challenges, particularly in Ghana, is limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore and understand the challenges encountered by pediatric oncology nurses in Ghana.
- To identify specific work-related issues affecting nurses caring for children with cancer.
Main Methods:
- An exploratory qualitative study was conducted at Tamale Teaching Hospital, Ghana.
- 14 pediatric oncology nurses were purposively sampled for semi-structured interviews.
- Data were analyzed using Elo and Kyngas content analysis, ensuring validity through Guba and Lincoln's criteria.
Main Results:
- Eight subcategories of challenges emerged: time-consuming care, low job motivation, inadequate logistics, work stress, reduced workforce, low knowledge, lack of teamwork, and fear of contracting cancer.
- These challenges stem from both organizational and personal constraints.
- The findings highlight significant barriers to effective pediatric cancer care.
Conclusions:
- Addressing the identified organizational and personal constraints is essential for enhancing pediatric cancer care.
- Investment in human, material, and financial resources is needed from hospital management, government, and stakeholders.
- Improved support systems for nurses can lead to better outcomes for children with cancer.
Background:
Pediatric cancer is a global problem, and some studies have emphasized that nurses caring for these children experience work-related challenges. This has caused many children diagnosed with cancer to have a prolonged hospital stay and suffer unnecessary pain. However, there is insufficient documentary evidence on this issue. This study aims to explore and understand the challenges faced by pediatric oncology nurses in caring for children in Ghana.
Methods:
An exploratory qualitative research design study was conducted from August 2019 to April 2020. The study was conducted at the pediatric oncology unit which is located at the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH), Ghana. The study was conducted among 14 Ghanaian pediatric oncology nurses who were purposively sampled. A semi-structured interview guide was used to collect data. The interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed inductively using Elo and Kyngas content analysis approach. The criteria proposed by Guba and Lincoln were used to ensure the validity of the study.
Results:
From the analysis of participants transcripts, eight subcategories emerged from two major categories. The subcategories were; time-consuming care, low job motivations, inadequate logistics, work stress, reduced labour force, low knowledge level, lack of teamwork and the perception of contracting cancer.
Conclusions:
The results point to several organizational and personal constraints experienced by the nurses who work at the pediatric oncology ward. It is hoped that by addressing these challenges, it would lead to further improvement in the care that is provided to children with cancer. There is the need for the administrative managers of hospitals, government and other stakeholders to invest in human, material and financial resources for delivering childhood cancer care services.
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