Turning to art as a positive way of living with cancer: A qualitative study of personal motives and contextual influences

Background: People living with cancer that is treatable but not curable have complex needs, often managing health at home, supported by those close to them. Challenges are likely to be exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic and the risk-reducing measures introduced in response. The impact of COVID-19 on those living with incurable, life-threatening conditions is little understood. Aim: To investigate the experiences and identify the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic for people living with treatable not curable cancer and their informal carers. Design: Qualitative semi-structured phone interviews were conducted with 21 patients living with cancer that is treatable but not curable and 14 carers. Setting/ participants: Participants were part of a larger longitudinal qualitative study (ENABLE) on supported self-management for people living with cancer that is treatable but not curable. Results: The COVID-19 pandemic magnified uncertainty and anxiety and led to loss of opportunities to do things important to patients in the limited time they have left to live. Lack of face-to-face contact with loved ones had a significant impact on patients’ and carers’ emotional wellbeing. Carers experienced increased responsibilities but less access to formal and informal support and respite. While changes to treatment led to some concern about longer-term impact on health, most patients felt well-supported by healthcare teams. Conclusion: The study provides rich insights into the nature of challenges, uncertainty and lost opportunities resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic for patients and carers living with cancer that is treatable but not curable, which has wider resonance for people living with other life-limiting conditions.

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Contribution of visual art-making to the subjective well-being of women living with cancer: A qualitative study

The Arts in Psychotherapy ◽

10.1016/j.aip.2006.09.005 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 34 (1) ◽

pp. 1-10 ◽

Cited By ~ 54

Author(s):

Frances Reynolds ◽

Kee Hean Lim

Keyword(s):

Qualitative Study ◽

Visual Art ◽

Well Being ◽

Subjective Well Being ◽

Art Making ◽

Living With Cancer

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Creative Adventures and Flow in Art-Making: A Qualitative Study of Women Living with Cancer

British Journal of Occupational Therapy ◽

10.1177/030802260606900603 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 69 (6) ◽

pp. 255-262 ◽

Cited By ~ 41

Author(s):

Frances Reynolds ◽

Sarah Prior

Keyword(s):

Qualitative Study ◽

Art Making ◽

Living With Cancer

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Nourishing and Thwarting Effects of Contextual Influences upon Multiple Dimensions of Identity: Does Gender Matter?

NASPA Journal ◽

10.2202/0027-6014.1259 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 40 (3) ◽

Author(s):

Christy D. Moran

Keyword(s):

Gender Differences ◽

Qualitative Study ◽

Contextual Influences ◽

Multiple Dimensions

The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate possible gender differences in the nature and role of the contextual influences (events, experiences, and relationships) that shape multiple dimensions of identity during college. Fifteen college alumni used lifelines to document their identity-shaping experiences during college; two interviews were conducted with each of these alumni. Findings suggest the existence of gender differences in the following areas: types of contextual influences that shape identity during college, reactions to those contextual influences, and attributions of salience to various identity dimensions.

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Experiences of adolescents living with cancer: A descriptive qualitative study

Journal of Child Health Care ◽

10.1177/1367493518763109 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 22 (4) ◽

pp. 532-544 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Sin Hui Ang ◽

Serena Siew Lin Koh ◽

Xiu Hua @ Hideka Tamamura Lee ◽

Shefaly Shorey

Keyword(s):

Qualitative Study ◽

Emotional Response ◽

Social Dynamics ◽

Psychosocial Outcomes ◽

Physical Symptoms ◽

Hospital Environment ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Convenience Sampling ◽

Living With Cancer ◽

Descriptive Qualitative

This study aimed to explore the experiences of adolescents from Singapore, aged 10–18 years old, living with cancer and their perceptions on how their psychosocial outcomes can be improved. A descriptive qualitative study design was used. Convenience sampling was used to recruit 10 participants from a pediatric oncology ward in a Singapore hospital. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data. Five major themes emerged: (1) experience of physical symptoms, (2) emotional response to their condition, (3) changes in social dynamics, and (4) falling behind in academics. The psychosocial outcomes of Singaporean adolescents with cancer could be improved by thorough pain assessments and creating a more conducive hospital environment.

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An Exploration of the help-seeking experiences of patients in an allied professions-led rapid access chest pain pathway: a qualitative study

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2020-040468 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (11) ◽

pp. e040468

Author(s):

Nolan Stain ◽

Anna Cheshire ◽

Catherine Ross ◽

Damien Ridge

Keyword(s):

Chest Pain ◽

Qualitative Study ◽

Help Seeking ◽

Pain Clinic ◽

Contextual Influences ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Coronary Syndrome ◽

Rapid Access ◽

Making Sense ◽

Pain Pathway

ObjectiveA number of studies have explored delayed help-seeking practices for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and have indentified multiple intersecting factors which may play a role, for example, attributing symptoms, age, gender, ethnicity and contextual influences. However, the pathway to diagnosis for suspected coronary heart disease (CHD) symptoms in a rapid access chest pain clinic (RACPC) context is underexplored. The objective of this study was to examine patients’ help-seeking experiences of accessing RACPC services, from the point at which they notice and interpret symptoms, to their decision to seek help from their general practitioner.DesignQualitative study.SettingInterviews were conducted in the RACPC at Queen Mary’s Roehampton Hospital, London, UK.ParticipantsMaximum variation sampling was used to recruit 30 participants (15 men and 15 women) referred to a RACPC, using sampling dimensions of age, ethnicity and occupation.MethodsSemi-structured interviews focussed on the patient experience of their pathway to the RACPC. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the interview data.ResultsParticipant interpretation of symptoms was shaped by multiple influences; reluctance to seek help contributed to delay; various factors acted as drivers as well as barriers to help-seeking; and GP referrals to RACPC were based on symptoms as well as patients’ need for reassurance.ConclusionWe found complex issues shaped the patient’s decision-making when accessing the RACPC, including making sense of symptoms and help-seeking practices. These findings can be used to develop health promotion literature to encourage early help-seeking and improve RACPC services.

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Qualitative study on “hydropic degeneration” of The hepatocytes in viral hepatitis

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s042482010016039x ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 48 (3) ◽

pp. 568-569

Author(s):

Le Meizhao ◽

Ye Ming ◽

Song Xiaoming ◽

Xu Jiazhang

Keyword(s):

Qualitative Study ◽

Viral Hepatitis ◽

Chronic Active Hepatitis ◽

Microscopic Observation ◽

Hydropic Degeneration ◽

Light Microscopic Observation ◽

Biopsy Specimens ◽

Endoplasm Reticulum ◽

Mixed Fluid ◽

Peripheral Cytoplasm

“Hydropic degeneration” of the hepatocytes are often found in biopsy of the liver of some kinds of viral hepatitis. Light microscopic observation, compareted with the normal hepatocytes, they are enlarged, sometimes to a marked degree when the term “balloning” degeneration is used. Their cytoplasm rarefied, and show some clearness in the peripheral cytoplasm, so, it causes a hydropic appearance, the cytoplasm around the nuclei is granulated. Up to the present, many studies belive that main ultrastructural chenges of hydropic degeneration of the hepatocytes are results of the RER cristae dilatation with degranulation and disappearance of glycogen granules.The specimens of this study are fixed with the mixed fluid of the osmium acidpotassium of ferricyanide, Epon-812 embed. We have observed 21 cases of biopsy specimens with chronic severe hepatitis and severe chronic active hepatitis, and found that the clear fields in the cytoplasm actually are a accumulating place of massive glycogen. The granules around the nuclei are converging mitochondria, endoplasm reticulum and other organelles.

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