The purpose of the study was to explore the role of religion in meaning making and coping among a group of black patients receiving some form of prostate cancer (PCa) treatment at a public hospital in Limpopo Province, South Africa. A sample of 20 PCa patients, with ages ranging from 67 to 85 years (mean age =76yrs; SD: 5.3) selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected through in-depth, semistructured individual interviews and analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). The findings demonstrated that religion is an important factor in meaning making and coping by prostate cancer survivors. The findings suggest that healthcare practitioners need to pay close attention to the meanings that cancer patients assign to their illness to provide the appropriate care and support.
Dr Nkoana is a licensed Clinical Psychologist currently employed as an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology, University of Limpopo, South Africa. He is an external examiner for the MSc (Clinical Psychology) program at Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (formerly Medical University of Southern Africa – Medunsa), South Africa. Dr Nkoanateaches Applied Clinical Neuropsychology and is the past coordinator of the Graduate Clinical Psychology training program at the University of Limpopo. He has published research in Behavioral Medicine, Public Health and Mental health.
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