Sociocultural-Psycho-spiritual Dimensions in the Lives of Breast Cancer Patients: A Mixed Methods Study in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Abstract

This mixed methods design captured what numbers and narratives alone could not. Purposeful and network sampling reached clinic users and rural women, which improved voice and breadth. Validated tools like Hospital Anxiety and Depression, paired with a tailored sociocultural module, mapped distress, stigma, and support. Semi-structured interviews in Pashto and Urdu added depth on honor, prayer, and family roles. Parallel analysis, then joint displays, showed where rates and stories met. The approach strengthens policy insight. Hospitals can pair screening for anxiety with brief faith‑sensitive counseling. Community programs can train female navigators, include elders in consent talks, and schedule around prayer times. Data security, local IRB approval, and WHO guidance kept the work safe and trusted. Use these lessons to guide service design in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Share this post, support local studies, or add your experience. Your voice can shape better care. For more on breast cancer methodology in Pakistan, stay with this series. This mixed-methods study shows how sociocultural barriers and psycho-spiritual strengths shape care for breast cancer in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Family authority, stigma, and cost can slow help-seeking, while faith, prayer, and community ties often steady mood and reinforce adherence. The value lies in pairing numbers with lived stories, then translating both into integrated care that honors modesty, family roles, and belief.