Cancer is a global health burden through which patients and caregivers experience mental health challenges along the cancer care continuum. Patients become susceptible to different psychological and emotional distress arising from pain, metastasis, recurrence, irrational and suicidal thoughts. Previous studies concentrated on survey findings of suicidal ideation among cancer patients in this region. This study however assessed the factors associated with suicidal thoughts and patients’ perceptions of the efficacy of psychotherapy in managing suicidal ideation among cancer patients in the Southwest Nigeria.
The study adopted a qualitative research method of exploratory sequential design type as quantitative data collection and treatment intervention occurred first, followed by qualitative data collection and analysis using Focus Group Discussion as a tool. The purposive sampling technique was employed. Two states in the Southwest were randomly selected. A teaching hospital rendering oncologic services was purposively selected. Focus Group Discussion guides were used to obtain qualitative data from 17 cancer patients recruited from University College Hospital, Ibadan and Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu. Data were transcribed and translated into English Language. Qualitative thematic analysis was employed for data analysis. Ethical approval was obtained from the institutions.
Three primary themes were revealed through the Thematic analysis: Attitudes of patients towards cancer diagnosis, risk factors for suicidal ideation and effectiveness of psychotherapy.
The study revealed that majority of the participants perceive diagnosis of cancer as end of life and further identified pain as the major factor which triggers suicidal thoughts in patients. The findings concluded that psychotherapy is effective in the management of suicidal ideation among cancer patients.
It was recommended that patients distress assessment should be encouraged in oncology clinics and psycho-oncology should be integrated in oncology care in Nigeria to reduce distress and enhance patients’ quality of life.