The self-care situation of cholangiocarcinoma patients and families

Abstract

This qualitative study aimed to explore the self-care situation of cholangiocarcinoma (CHCA) patients and families in one province in Northeast, Thailand. The data were collected from 64 patients with CHCA and family by in-depth interviews. The data were analyzed by content analysis. The findings revealed as follows. 1) The meanings of the disease based on the views of the patient and their families were that “no warning signs”, “can be cured quickly if found at the early stage, “cannot be cured” and “fateful disease”. 2) The self-care behaviors included eating raw fish, having health check, screening for disease and discontinued care. 3) The problems and needs were not having money for diagnose of disease, eating raw fish culture, not aware of the disease, defecating into water sources, not having caregivers, debts and long distance for receiving care. 4) Self-care conditions included community support, belief on disease and eating raw fish culture. The results of the study can be proposed for the proposals to strengthen the capacity of patients and families to change their lifestyle of eating raw fish which was the cause of disease, and the proposals for health service units to design a mechanism for accessing health services for CHCA patients and provide care according to the care needs of the vulnerable population and those having the disease.