The Traditional Medicine Practitioner’s Concept of Cancer, Herbal medicine use and the Patients Perceived benefits (Clinical outcomes) in Selected Districts of Central Uganda: An Exploratory Study Protocol

Abstract

Background: In sub-Saharan Africa, herbal medicine for cancer is dispensed by traditional medicine practitioners (TMPs) to a large extent, who may not have adequate knowledge about the disease and this has been found to contribute to the late presentation of cancer patients to clinics and hospitals leading to poor patient outcomes. Aim: This study will investigate the traditional medicine practitioner's concept of cancer, its care herbal medicine use, and the patients' perceived benefits (clinical outcomes) in selected districts of Central Uganda. Methods: This study will use a convergent parallel mixed-method design. TMPs claiming to treat cancer, with at least 10 years of experience will be recruited and interviewed about their understanding of cancer as a disease (grounded theory design) and the herbs used in cancer treatment (ethnobotanical survey). We will also conduct a prospective observational study to obtain the data on the perceived clinical outcomes of using herbal medicine. Adult patients (>18years) with a medical diagnosis of cancer signposted by TMPs will be recruited and followed up at baseline, 3, and 6 months. Study outcomes will include a change in the quality of life score, cancer symptoms score, perceived benefits score, and adverse reactions. The researcher will analyze qualitative data using Open, axial, selective coding techniques. We will analyze the quantitative data using descriptive statistics and results presented in frequencies, percentages and measures of central tendency (mean) where applicable. Additional analyzes such as bivariate (paired t-test and one-way repeated measures ANOVA), and multivariate (linear mixed effects model) analysis for the repeated measures data shall be undertaken to analyze the prospective observational data. P- Values of <0.05 will be considered statistically significant.