Determinants of Noncompliance to Cancer Treatment among Cancer Patients in David Umahi Federal University Teaching Hospital; Focus on Sociodemographic, Psychological and Treatment Modalities

Background: Cancer treatment outcome in Nigeria and in Sub Sahara Africa has been identified to be sub-optimum and implicated factors include delayed presentation, late-stage diagnosis, and inadequate treatment as challenges linked to poverty, prolonged treatment durations, social issues and non-adherence to treatment protocols. Many reports have focused on patient-related and health system challenges from symptom development through diagnosis. Despite the critical need for radiotherapy, many patients who start treatment do not complete the full course. It has been documented that only 46.5% of cervical cancer patients at an urban tertiary health center in the United States completed treatment within the recommended time frame of 56 days. Therefore, various factors could be responsible for the non completion of treatment leading to devastating effect of cancers in patients in Nigeria and sub-Saharan Africa. Furthermore, underlying psychological factors, an area clinicians rarely take seriously, have become a major barriers to the timely completion of radiation therapy for cancer patient. Despite these findings, there is a notable lack of local studies in the Nigerian context that specifically examine the correlation between psychosocial issues and the extended duration of radiation therapy in cancer patients in relation to treatment compliance.

Psychosocial, determinants, noncompliance, psychological support

1. Obiora Jude Uchendu. Cancer Incidence in Nigeria: A Tertiary Hospital Experience. Asian Pac J Cancer Care,2020. 5 (1), 27-32 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

2. Nsom Gwendoline Nkenu et al. Characterizing factors influencing adherence to surgery and chemotherapy amongst women suffering from breast cancer in Mbingo Baptist Hospital Cameroon. Pan African Medical Journal. 2022;43(102). 10.11604/pamj.2022.43.102.28672 Available online at: https://www.panafrican-med-journal.com/content/article/43/102/full [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

3. Justin-Agorye Ingwu*, Chiamaka Idoko, Chidinma-Egbichi Israel, Ijeoma Maduakolam, Obiagele Madu. Factors influencing non–adherence to chemotherapy: Perspective of Nigerian breast cancer survivor. Journal of Nursing Practice Today Nurs Pract Today. 2019; 6(1):41-48. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

4. Agodirin Olayide1, Aremu Isiaka2, Rahman Ganiyu3, Olatoke Samuel1, Akande Halimat4, Olasehinde Olalekan5, Olaogun Julius6, Romanoff Anya7,8. Breast Cancer Treatment and Outcomes in Nigeria: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Asian Pac J Cancer Care, 8 (3), 591-598. DOI:10.31557/APJCC.2023.8.3.591 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

5. Ajibola A. Adebisi , Daniel E. Onobun , Chijioke Orji , Reginald Ononye 4. Barriers to the Completion of Radiation Therapy in Cervical Cancer Treatment in Nigeria: A Review of Socioeconomic, Geographical, and Psychosocial Factors. Cureus 16(10): e70747. DOI 10.7759/cureus.70747 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

6. Njaka SRN* A Systemic Review of Incidence of Cancer and Challenges to its Treatment in Nigeria. Journal of r r u Cancer Science & Therapy. J Cancer Sci Ther 2016, 8:12 DOI: 10.4172/1948-5956.1000429 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

7. Yemane Eshetu Bekalu1, Muluken Amare Wudu2, and Amare Workie Gashu3. Adherence to Chemotherapy and Associated Factors Among Patients With Cancer in Amhara Region, Northeastern Ethiopia, 2022. A Cross-Sectional Study. Cancer Control Volume 30: 1–10 © The Author(s) 2023 Article reuse guidelines: sagepub.com/journals-permissions DOI: 10.1177/10732748231185010 journals.sagepub.com/home/ccx [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

8. Sharif Adeniyi Folorunso1, Oyindamola Olajumoke Abiodun2, Abbas Adesina Abdus-Salam3 and Funmilola Olanike Wuraol. Evaluation of side effects and compliance to chemotherapy in breast cancer patients at a Nigerian tertiary hospital ecancer 2023, 17:1537 https://doi.org/10.3332/ecancer.2023.1537. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

9. M.D.Dairo ,1 D.B.Adamu,2,3 Y.A.Onimode,4 A.Ntekim,2 andO.Ayeni. Characteristics and Determinants of Patients Discontinuation of Breast Cancer Follow-Up Care at the Radiation Oncology Department, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria Hindawi International Journal of Breast Cancer Volume 2018, Article ID 1597964, 9 pages https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/1597964. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

10. DarlingtinaK.Esiaka1 | CandidusNwakasi2,3 | VincentU.Nnamele4 | AmarachiO. Idu5 | JoshuaEgwuonwu6 | KafayatO.Mahmoud7 Pathwaystohealthoutcomesaftercancerdiagnosis: AsystematicreviewofcancersurvivorshipinNigeria. DOI:10.1002/pon.6167 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

11. Olufunke Fayehun1, Patricia Apenteng2*, Usman Aliyu Umar3,4, Kudus Oluwatoyin Adebayo1,5, Eme Owoaje1, Jo Sartori2, Omolara Popoola1, Ujunwa Nnabuife1, Abiola Oladejo1, Oladoyin Odubanjo6, Omobolaji Ayandipo7, Akin-Tunde Odukogbe7, David Irabor7, Julius Ijitola7, Abubakar Bala Muhammad3, Imani Haruna8, Abdulrazak Ajiya3,4, Abdul Rasheed Suleiman3,4, Ibrahim Danladi Muhammad3, Natalia Adamou3,4, Nasir Garba Abdullahi9, Saminu Muhammad3, Isah Tijjani3, Tijjani Nasiru Nagwamutse3, Shehu Usman Abdullahi10, Lawal Shittu3, Khadija Abdullahi Ado3, Ashiru Aliyu Umar3, Asiya Sufyan Bello3, Ibrahim Adamu Yakasai3,4, Akinyinka Omigbodun1 and Richard Lilford. Diagnosis of cancer in the South and North of Nigeria: duration and causes of delay. Fayehun et al. BMC Health Services Research https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-025-12707-8 RESEARCH (2025) 25:738 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

12. R. Shaheena,*, P.J. Slanetza, S. Razab, M.P. Rosena Barriers and opportunities for early detection of breast cancer in Gaza women. R. Shaheen et al. / The Breast 20 (2011) S30eS34 doi:10.1016/j.breast.2011.01.010. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

• The Impact of Ownership Structure on Dividend Payout Policy of Listed Plantation Companies in Sri Lanka
• Urban Sustainability in North-East India: A Study through the lens of NER-SDG index
• Performance Assessment of Predictive Forecasting Techniques for Enhancing Hospital Supply Chain Efficiency in Healthcare Logistics
• The Fractured Self in Julian Barnes' Postmodern Fiction: Identity Crisis and Deflation in Metroland and the Sense of an Ending
• Impact of Flood on the Employment, Labour Productivity and Migration of Agricultural Labour in North Bihar