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This qualitative study investigated barriers to cancer diagnosis and treatment from patient, caregiver, and healthcare provider perspectives. In-depth interviews with 37 patients and additional caregivers and providers identified misconceptions, cultural explanations, stigma, and health-system and financial constraints that contribute to delayed health seeking.",{"@graph":69,"@context":122},[70,84,105],{"@type":71,"itemListElement":72},"BreadcrumbList",[73,77,79,82],{"item":74,"name":75,"@type":76,"position":8},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",{"item":78,"name":9,"@type":76,"position":14},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/",{"item":80,"name":40,"@type":76,"position":81},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/research-report/",3,{"item":83,"name":65,"@type":76,"position":19},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/factors-influencing-delayed-cancer-health-seeking-in-meghalaya-northeast-india-a-qualitative-study/331501/",{"url":83,"name":65,"@type":85,"image":86,"author":91,"headline":65,"publisher":94,"fileFormat":97,"inLanguage":63,"description":67,"dateModified":98,"datePublished":99,"encodingFormat":97,"isAccessibleForFree":100,"interactionStatistic":101},"DigitalDocument",{"url":87,"@type":88,"width":89,"height":90},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/factors-influencing-delayed-cancer-health-seeking-in-meghalaya-northeast-india-a-qualitative-study/331501.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":92,"@type":93},"Eden","Person",{"url":74,"name":95,"@type":96},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-11-13","2026-09-21",true,{"@type":102,"interactionType":103,"userInteractionCount":39},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":104},"ViewAction",{"@type":106,"mainEntity":107},"FAQPage",[108,114,118],{"name":109,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":111},"What was the study’s main objective in Meghalaya?","Question",{"text":112,"@type":113},"To understand factors influencing healthcare seeking for cancers in Meghalaya from patient, caregiver, and provider perspectives.","Answer",{"name":115,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":116},"How were participants recruited and what interviews were conducted?",{"text":117,"@type":113},"Thirty-seven individuals diagnosed with selected cancers were recruited from the state referral cancer hospital, and additional caregivers and healthcare providers were also interviewed using semi-structured guides.",{"name":119,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":120},"Which factors contributed to delayed cancer treatment?",{"text":121,"@type":113},"Misconceptions about cancer causes and cultural concepts, reluctance to discuss diagnoses due to perceived stigma, apprehension about treatment, misinterpretation of early symptoms, preference for traditional medicines, negligence, financial constraints, and health-system related factors.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":83,"og:type":124,"og:title":65,"og:site_name":95,"og:description":67},"article",{"robots":126,"canonical":83},"index,follow",{"doc_id":128,"site_id":62},331501,1790153284,{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":131},{"doc_id":128,"user_id":132,"nickname":92,"user_avatar":133,"doc_module":4,"category_id":39,"category_name":40,"doc_title":65,"doc_description":67,"doc_content":134,"file_id":135,"file_url":136,"file_type":137,"file_size":138,"view_count":39,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":8,"is_downloadable":8,"audit_status":8,"page_count":44,"language":139,"language_code":63,"site_id":62,"html_lang":63,"table_of_contents":140,"faqs":141,"seo_title":142,"seo_description":67,"update_tm":143,"read_time":144,"preview_page_count":4},1374391974468,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_29158cc5080c5b710cf443261637dec0","Indian J Med Res 160, August 2024, pp 201-209 DOI: 10.25259/ijmr_2136_23  \nFactors influencing delayed cancer health seeking in Meghalaya, Northeast India: A qualitative study  \nBarilin Dkhar1, Carmenia Khongwir1, Uniqueky Gratis Mawrie1, Fellicita Pohsnem1, Redolen Rose Dhar1, Anisha Mawlong2,3, Rajiv Sarkar1, Melari Shisha Nongrum1 & Sandra Albert1  \n1Indian Institute of Public Health Shillong, 2Department of Radiation Oncology, Civil Hospital Shillong, & 3Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Meghalaya, Shillong, Meghalaya, India  \nReceived 11 July 2023; Accepted July 29, 2024; Published: October 22, 2024  \nBackground & objectives: India accounts for about seven per cent of the global cancer burden with the highest cancer incidence reported from the North-Eastern Region (NER), including Meghalaya.  \nDespite this, there is paucity of published studies on health seeking behaviour for cancer in the NER.  \nTo address this gap, this study used a qualitative approach to document patient, caregiver and provider  \nperspectives to understand the factors influencing healthcare seeking for cancers in Meghalaya.  \nMethods: In-depth interviews were undertaken with 37 individuals diagnosed with one of the top five cancers in Meghalaya, namely, oesophageal, breast, oral, cervical and lung cancer. They were identified from the State referral cancer hospital. Twelve caregivers and five healthcare providers were also interviewed. All interviews were conducted in the local language using semi-structured interview guides.  \nTranscripts were translated to English, coded, categorized and analyzed using thematic framework  \ncontent analysis approach.  \nResults: A key factor influencing delayed cancer treatment in Meghalaya included misconceptions regarding the causes of cancer and cultural concepts such as bih and skai (Khasi language), i.e. notions of a figurative ‘poison’ or ill intent that makes one susceptible to illness. A general reluctance to discuss cancer diagnoses, perceived stigma, apprehension of treatment methods influenced their decision. Other factors included negligence and misinterpretation of early symptoms of cancer, self-management,  \npreference for traditional medicines, financial constraints and health system-related factors.  \nInterpretation & conclusions: This study underscores the importance of addressing barriers to cancer diagnosis and treatment in indigenous populations in northeast India, advocating for culturally appropriate messaging, capacity building for healthcare workers, integration of traditional healers, and  \ncommunity involvement to enhance early healthcare seeking and improve outcomes.  \nKey words Cancer health-seeking behaviour-cultural concepts-indigenous world views-northeast India-stigma-traditional medicine  \nCancer is a globally leading cause of death, accounting for around 10 million deaths in 20201. By  \n2040 the cancer cases are projected to increase by 47 per cent (an estimated 28.4 million cancer cases)2. The  \n© 2024 Indian Journal of Medical Research, published by Scientific Scholar for Director-General, Indian Council of Medical Research  \nThis open access publication is protected under CC-BY-NC-SA 4.0  \n202 INDIAN J MED RES, AUGUST 2024  \nestimated incident number of cancer cases in India for the year 2022 was 14,61,427 with one in nine people with the likelihood of developing cancer in his/her lifetime3.  \nThe States in the North Eastern Region (NER) of India have the highest cancer incidence and are predominantly inhabited by tribal communities, each with unique socio-cultural, behavioural and lifestyle factors4. NER’s cancer profile includes high incidence of cancers ofthe upper digestive tract such as stomach, oesophagus, and hypopharynx5. There is high consumption of tobacco, alcohol, betelnut and other food products such as chilli peppers, smoked meat and fish in the NER, which are known risk factors for cancers5,6 . This is further exacerbated by the low levels of can","cbCaibUULoGJCKsA","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaibUULoGJCKsA","pdf",457279,"English","# Background & objectives\n# Methods\n## Study setting\n# Results\n# Interpretation & conclusions","[{\"question\":\"What was the study’s main objective in Meghalaya?\",\"answer\":\"To understand factors influencing healthcare seeking for cancers in Meghalaya from patient, caregiver, and provider perspectives.\"},{\"question\":\"How were participants recruited and what interviews were conducted?\",\"answer\":\"Thirty-seven individuals diagnosed with selected cancers were recruited from the state referral cancer hospital, and additional caregivers and healthcare providers were also interviewed using semi-structured guides.\"},{\"question\":\"Which factors contributed to delayed cancer treatment?\",\"answer\":\"Misconceptions about cancer causes and cultural concepts, reluctance to discuss diagnoses due to perceived stigma, apprehension about treatment, misinterpretation of early symptoms, preference for traditional medicines, negligence, financial constraints, and health-system related factors.\"}]","Factors influencing delayed cancer health seeking in Meghalaya, Northeast India - A qualitative study | PDF",1789993604,23]