Symptom monitoring and the uncertain threat of disease recurrence: A deductive thematic analysis with adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors.

2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (31_suppl) ◽  
pp. 147-147
Author(s):  
Lauren C Heathcote ◽  
Nele Loecher ◽  
Sheri L. Spunt ◽  
Pamela Simon ◽  
Gary Dahl ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Survivors ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Cancer Survival ◽  
Physical Symptoms ◽  
The Body ◽  
Adolescent And Young Adult ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Cancer Symptoms ◽  
Symptom Monitoring ◽  
Bodily Sensations

147 Background: Symptom monitoring plays an important role in both the physical and psychological challenges of surviving cancer. Anecdotally, cancer survival is characterized by uncertainty, symptom-related fear, and the interpretation of normal bodily sensations as symptomatic of cancer recurrence. This fear may lead to over-vigilance of benign bodily sensations, increasing anxiety and decreasing quality of life. Yet, there are few studies investigating how cancer survivors interpret and make sense of post-cancer symptoms. These studies are needed to guide considerations for clinical practice and the development of supportive interventions. Methods: We conducted in-depth semi-structured interviews with 18 AYA cancer survivors about how they interpret, manage, and respond to physical symptoms during survivorship. Participants were 15-25 years old. The sample was diverse in terms of disease history, ethnicity (8 Hispanic), and gender (9 females, 1 nonbinary). We conducted thematic analysis using a deductive coding scheme that was developed using our Cancer Threat Interpretation (CTI) theoretical model of cognitive, affective, and behavioral processes in post-cancer symptom perception. Results: AYA cancer survivors reported experiencing anxiety in the face of common physical sensations. These sensations were often interpreted as potential signs of recurrence or as late effects of treatment. Survivors most commonly reported worries about pain and fatigue, but also other sensations such as breathlessness. We coded participant transcripts into the following themes: biased attending towards symptoms, biased interpretations of symptoms as threatening, fear and worry about symptoms, and behavioral response to symptoms. In addition, we generated a new theme that was not previously captured in the CTI model: trust in the body. Conclusions: Knowing how to appraise and respond to symptoms such as pain is a challenge for AYA cancer survivors. This rich qualitative data provides support for the CTI model and suggests future directions. The results of this study can inform how clinicians talk to their patients about symptom monitoring after treatment ends.

scholarly journals Towards a Holistic Framework of Cancer Related Fatigue: Qualitative Data on the Experience of Embodiment in Breast Cancer Survivors

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cooper Keaton Penner ◽  
Chloe Zimmerman ◽  
Ted Kaptchuck ◽  
Lisa Conboy
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Cancer Survivors ◽  
Cancer Treatment ◽  
Lived Experience ◽  
Breast Cancer Survivors ◽  
The Body ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Cancer Related Fatigue ◽  
Consistent Change ◽  
Bodily Sensations

Cancer Related Fatigue (CRF) is one of the most common and detrimental side effects of cancer treatment. Despite its increasing prevalence and severity CRF remains dismissed by the majority of clinicians. One reason for the apparent gap between clinical need and clinical undertaking is the penchant towards reductionist accounts of the disorder: a tendency to discount the interface between the lived experience of sufferers and the multi-dimensional etiology of CRF as it manifests adversely on a day-to-day basis. We undertook semi-structured interviews with 13 Breast cancer survivors suffering from CRF and then subsequently coded their responses using Team Based Qualitative Analysis. We focused most specifically on shifts in embodied awareness that accompanied our participant’s experience of CRF. Our analysis revealed multiple dimensions of the social and bodily underpinnings of fatigue. Most relevantly we found a consistent change in the reported capacity for awareness of bodily sensations. This shift in awareness appeared to be directly connected to the experience of CRF and a newfound, “respect” for the needs of the body. Furthermore, we found that many of the practices that were described as helpful in alleviating fatigue were oriented around eliciting a sense of embodied awareness, examples being: dance, yoga, and shamanic ritual. This relationship with bodily sensations existed in conjunction with the anxiety and trauma that arose as a result of cancer treatment. Our analysis suggests that the quality of awareness and relationship to bodily experience in CRF is a functionally relevant component of the disorder and should be considered as an experiential target moving forward.

scholarly journals Reinscribing the Lived Body: A Qualitative Study of Extraordinary Religious Healing Experiences in Norwegian Contexts

Religions ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 563
Author(s):  
Anne Austad ◽  
Marianne Rodriguez Nygaard ◽  
Tormod Kleiven
Keyword(s):  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
The Body ◽  
Christian Faith ◽  
Lived Body ◽  
European Perspective ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Religious Healing ◽  
Northern European ◽  
Transformational Experiences ◽  
Body Theory

Poor health often motivates people to engage in religious and spiritual approaches to healing. However, there is limited research on such experiences from a northern European perspective. This article investigates healing experiences related to Christian faith and practices in Norway by thematic analysis of 25 semi-structured interviews with individuals who have experienced healing of different ailments. In so doing, healing events across diverse contexts are characterised, and the results show that such experiences not only feature practices in which other people are present in prayer, preaching, and the laying on of hands, but also spontaneous extraordinary encounters with a divine being through visions and voices. The healing events are further described as experiences of transformational, powerful touch. In light of the lived body theory, these transformational experiences can be understood as re-inscriptions of health that are manifested in the intertwined bio–psycho–social–spiritual aspects of the body.

scholarly journals Noisy Lives, Noisy Bodies

2017 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Camilla Hoffmann Merrild ◽  
Peter Vedsted ◽  
Rikke Sand Andersen
Keyword(s):  
Social Inequalities ◽  
Cancer Survival ◽  
Social Situation ◽  
Care Seeking ◽  
Social Differences ◽  
Cancer Symptoms ◽  
Symptom Appraisal ◽  
The Social ◽  
Bodily Sensations ◽  
Public Health Promotion

AbstractSocial inequality in cancer survival is well known, and within public health promotion enhancing awareness of cancer symptoms is often promoted as a way to reduce social differences in stage of cancer at the time of diagnosis. In order to add to our knowledge of what may lie behind social inequalities in cancer survival encountered in many high-income countries, this article explores the situatedness of bodily sensations. Based on comparative ethnographic fieldwork, we argue that the socially and biologically informed body influences how people from lower social classes experience sensations. Overall, we point out how the sensorial is tied to the embodiment of the social situation in the sense that some bodies make more ‘noise’ than others. It follows that standardised approaches to improving early care seeking by increasing knowledge and awareness may overlook essential explanations of social differences in symptom appraisal.

scholarly journals The oncologic radiotherapy experience for patients: a poison-drug

2008 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. 998-1004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosani Manfrin Muniz ◽  
Marcia Maria Fontão Zago
Keyword(s):  
Medical Records ◽  
Cancer Survival ◽  
The Body ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Treatment Data ◽  
Interpretative Approach ◽  
Patients Experience ◽  
Age Range ◽  
Radiotherapy Treatment

The study aimed at understanding the patients' experience with oncologic radiotherapy. The anthropological interpretative approach and the ethnographic method guided the investigation. Ten patients took part in the study. They were of both genders, within the age range from 34 to 80 years old and monitored during radiotherapy treatment. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, participative observation and medical records. The analysis of the respondents' statements allowed for the identification of the units of meaning: The encounter with radiotherapy, the body as a vehicle for radiotherapy action and alternative healthcare practices that relieved the effects of the treatment. We understand that the oncologic radiotherapy experience meant the need to submit to a therapy with a characteristic of a poison-drug, which causes fear, but was necessary, whether the goal was cure or even cancer survival.

Evaluating sexual function in adolescent and young adult childhood cancer survivors.

2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e24180-e24180
Author(s):  
Jenna Sopfe ◽  
Rebekah Marsh ◽  
Leslie C. Appiah ◽  
James L. Klosky ◽  
Pamela N Peterson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Young Adult ◽  
Cancer Survivors ◽  
Childhood Cancer ◽  
Screening Tool ◽  
Childhood Cancer Survivors ◽  
Adolescent And Young Adult ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Written Information ◽  
Promising Tool ◽  
Prior Experiences

e24180 Background: Up to half of adolescent and young adult (AYA) childhood cancer survivors (CCS) experience sexual dysfunction (SD) as a result cancer or its treatment. SD in CCS is under-recognized, with low levels of routine screening due to barriers such as discomfort, time, and awareness. This study explores solutions to these barriers by describing AYA CCS preferences for implementation of screening for SD and evaluating the utility of a validated adult screening tool (PROMIS SexFS Brief) in this population. Methods: 16 AYA CCS (aged 15-24 years) completed semi-structured interviews followed by questionnaire completion. Interviews explored patients’ prior experiences with SD screening, along with preferences for screening type (e.g., discussion, screening tool), delivery modality, and timing. Patients then completed the PROMIS SexFS Brief while verbalizing their thoughts and providing open-ended responses to each item. Transcribed interviews were inductively coded and analyzed, guided by content analysis methodology. Results: This analysis represents 2/3 of planned interviews, and all will be completed by April 1, 2020. Interviews were performed with 11 females and 5 males (median age 21). Preliminary analysis demonstrates that participants had minimal experience with SD conversations, but had preferences regarding by whom, how, and when screening/education should occur. Who: Participants felt providers should have preexisting rapport with their patients; preferences existed for provider role and sex/age. How: A combination of written materials and in-person conversations was preferred. Several acknowledged a desire to have a “warning” that the conversation would happen, such as through a questionnaire. Participants did not have a preference regarding delivery modality (paper vs. online). The PROMIS SexFS Brief appeared to demonstrate content validity and acceptability in AYA CCS. When: Participants wanted education and screening to occur regularly throughout cancer therapy and survivorship. SD conversations should be tailored developmentally to the patient. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate a theme throughout interviews of the importance of patient/provider rapport. Further, while AYA CCS prefer in-person conversations about SD, conversations should be preceded by written information or a questionnaire to increase patient preparedness/comfort. Preliminary findings suggest that the PROMIS SexFS Brief is a promising tool for screening SD in this population; further studies evaluating use in clinical settings is warranted.

scholarly journals Significados e experiências culturais em amamentação entre mulheres de dois países [Meaning and cultural experiences of breastfeeding among women from two countries] [Significados y experiencias culturales en lactancia entre mujeres de dos países]

2019 ◽  
Vol 27 ◽  
pp. e40605
Author(s):  
Pernelle Paula Laurencine Pastorelli ◽  
Eliane Caldas do Nascimento Oliveira ◽  
Laura Johanson da Silva ◽  
Leila Rangel da Silva ◽  
Maíra Domingues Bernardes Silva
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Research ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
The Body ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Research Committee ◽  
Body Pain ◽  
Ethics Research ◽  
Cultural Experiences ◽  
Investigación Cualitativa

Objetivo: identificar as experiências culturais relacionadas às decisões maternas para a amamentação entre dois países, visando compreender seus significados. Método: pesquisa qualitativa através de estudo de caso, sendo realizadas nove entrevistas semiestruturadas, com mulheres brasileiras e francesas, no período de abril a dezembro de 2017. Aplicou-se a análise temática de Bardin aos depoimentos. O projeto da pesquisa teve anuência de Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa. Resultados: quatro categorias emergiram da análise dos depoimentos: escolha, cultura e influências; entre benefícios e prazer; idealismo da amamentação; relação com o corpo: dor, pudor e sexualidade. Conclusão: as entrevistadas brasileiras apontam para uma valorização da mulher que amamenta e uma culpabilização daquela que não o faz. E para as francesas a sociedade veicula a ideia de que amamentação significa falta de liberdade. Nos dois lados ainda falta a mulher se apropriar dos seus desejos.ABSTRACTObjective: to identify the cultural experiences related to maternal breastfeeding decisions between two countries, aiming to understand their meanings. Methods: qualitative research through case study. Nine semi-structured interviews were conducted with Brazilian and French women, from April to December 2017. Bardin's thematic analysis was applied to the statements. The study was approved by ethics research committee. Results: four categories emerged: choice, culture and influences; between benefits and pleasure; breastfeeding idealism; relationship with the body: pain, shame and sexuality. Conclusion: in Brazil there is an appreciation of women who breastfeed and a blame for those who do not. In France society conveys the idea that breastfeeding means lack of freedom. In both countries the woman still needs to take ownership of her wishes.RESUMENObjetivo: identificar las experiencias culturales relacionadas con las decisiones de lactancia materna entre dos países, con el objetivo de comprender sus significados. Método: investigación cualitativa a través del estudio de caso. Fueron nueve entrevistas semiestructuradas con mujeres brasileñas y francesas, de abril a diciembre de 2017. El análisis temático de Bardin se aplicó a los datos. La investigación tuvo anuencia del Comité de Ética en Investigación.  Resultados: cuatro categorías emergieron: elección, cultura e influencias; entre beneficios y placer; idealismo de la lactancia materna; relación con el cuerpo: dolor, pudor y sexualidad. Conclusion: en Brasil, hay valorización de la mujer que amamanta y  culpabilización de aquella que no lo hace. En Francia, la sociedad vehicula la idea de que la lactancia significa falta de libertad. En los dos países todavía falta la mujer apropiarse de sus deseos.

scholarly journals The Complexities Associated with Caring for Hospitalised Infants with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome: The Perspectives of Nurses and Midwives

Children ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 152 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaylene Shannon ◽  
Stacy Blythe ◽  
Kath Peters
Keyword(s):  
Compassion Fatigue ◽  
Physical Symptoms ◽  
The Body ◽  
Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome ◽  
Complex Nature ◽  
Abstinence Syndrome ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Care Needs ◽  
Optimal Care ◽  
Nurses And Midwives

The global incidence of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) has increased significantly in the last decade. Symptoms of NAS manifest from the central and autonomic nervous systems as well as the gastrointestinal system and vary in severity and duration. The clinical management of infants experiencing NAS is dependent on symptoms and may include both pharmacological and non-pharmacological measures. In cases where symptoms are severe, infants may be admitted to special care nurseries or neonatal intensive care units. Existing research on nurses’ involvement in caring for infants with NAS focuses on pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions to treat physical symptoms associated with NAS. This research sought to add to the body of knowledge around NAS and conveys nurses’ and midwives’ experiences of delivering care for infants with NAS. Semi-structured interviews were held with nine nurses/midwives. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed. Five themes emerged from the data. These themes are: Complex care needs; Prioritising physiological care; Experiencing compassion fatigue; Lacking continuity of care; and Stigma. The findings demonstrated the complex nature of care provision for infants with NAS. Competing priorities and the stigmatising nature of NAS threaten optimal care being delivered to these vulnerable infants and their parents.

scholarly journals The spiritual beliefs of cancer survivors: A thematic analysis

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 139-157
Author(s):  
Devaki Nandan Sharma ◽  
Gyanesh Kumar Tiwari ◽  
Pramod Kumar Rai
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Survivors ◽  
Social Services ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Positive Thinking ◽  
Spiritual Beliefs ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Qualitative Research Design ◽  
Psychological Balance ◽  
Future Orientations

Aim This study explored the nature of spiritual beliefs and their role in regulating various life outcomes of cancer survivors. Method A heterogeneous sample of thirty diagnosed cancer patients with age ranging from 18 to 75 years participated in the study. The study employed a qualitative research design which involved semi-structured interviews and the thematic analysis of the audiotaped contents of these interviews. Results The analyses led to five themes regarding the spiritual beliefs of the participants. The identified themes were: “optimistic change towards life”, “fighting spirit towards life”, “enhanced trust in family and friends”, “improved realistic self-perception”, and “positive thinking with future orientations”. Conclusions The findings of the study showed that spiritual beliefs represented a complex phenomenon comprising cognitive, affective and behavioural components. Spiritual beliefs also carried many positive outcomes to regain and maintain psychological balance, well-being, quality of life and health. It also facilitated the patients to have strong desires to compensate their losses due to ill health by setting and achieving higher spiritual, social and interpersonal goals by carrying out social services, sacrifice and altruistic deeds.

scholarly journals Experience Lived by Iranian Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Transitory Crisis and Liberation

2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zinat Mohebbi ◽  
Farkhondeh Sharif ◽  
Hamid Peyrovi ◽  
Mahnaz Rakhshan ◽  
Mahvash Alizade Naini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Irritable Bowel Syndrome ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
The Body ◽  
Analysis Method ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Hermeneutical Phenomenology ◽  
Open Questions ◽  
Van Manen ◽  
Irritable Bowel ◽  
Iranian Patients

Objective. Research on the nature of living with Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Methods. Qualitative study of the hermeneutical phenomenology, which conducted in-depth semi-structured interviews with people trained on the irritable bowel syndrome. The sampling was intentional type and open questions were used to collect data. The Thematic Analysis Method by Van Manen was used. Results. Two principal themes and five subthemes emerged in this research to determine the meaning of living with the irritable bowel syndrome: Storm in corporality (body with pain and affliction, tension and sequence of symptoms, and: distress during moments of life) and Relief (sense of liberation of the body symptoms, and moments with pleasure). Conclusion. The experience lived by patients with irritable bowel syndrome is of a transitory crisis and liberation.Descriptors: irritable bowel síndrome; qualitative research; hermeneutics.How to cite this article: Mohebbi Z, Sharif F, Peyrovi H, Rakhshan M, Naini MA, Zarshenas L. Experience Lived by Iranian Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Transitory Crisis and Liberation. Invest. Educ. Enferm. 2019; 37(3):e10.

‘Are we on the same wavelength?’ International nurses and the process of confronting and adjusting to clinical communication in Australia

2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 263-274 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tonia Crawford ◽  
Peter Roger ◽  
Sally Candlin
Keyword(s):  
Communication Skills ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Care Setting ◽  
Linguistically Diverse ◽  
The Other ◽  
Culturally And Linguistically Diverse ◽  
Central Theme ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Clinical Communication ◽  
Professional Experiences

Effective communication skills are important in the health care setting in order to develop rapport and trust with patients, provide reassurance, assess patients effectively and provide education in a way that patients easily understand (Candlin and Candlin, 2003). However with many nurses from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds being recruited to fill the workforce shortfall in Australia, communication across cultures with the potential for miscommunication and ensuing risks to patient safety has gained increasing focus in recent years (Shakya and Horsefall, 2000; Chiang and Crickmore, 2009). This paper reports on the first phase of a study that examines intercultural nurse patient communication from the perspective of four Registered Nurses from CALD backgrounds working in Australia. Five interrelating themes that were derived from thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews are discussed. The central theme of ‘adjustment’ was identified as fundamental to the experiences of the RNs and this theme interrelated with each of the other themes that emerged: professional experiences with communication, ways of showing respect, displaying empathy, and vulnerability.

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