How I Deal With Breast Cancer: Iranian Women Survivors Coping Strategies - Content Analysis
Abstract Background: Breast cancer is the most frequent cancer in Iran. Understanding the coping strategies employed by cancer survivors can provide valuable information for designing interventions to help them adapt to their problems produced by cancer and its treatment. This study aimed to explore the coping strategies of BC survivors in Iran.Methods: This qualitative study was conducted in Mashhad, Northeast of Iran, between April to December 2021. 14 breast cancer survivors were selected through purposive sampling method. The data were collected using semi-structured interviews. Data were analyzed using conventional content analysis adopted by Graneheim & Lundman. MAXQDA 12 software, was used for data organization. Components of trustworthiness including credibility, dependability, confirmability and transferability were considered.Results: The main themes which emerged from participants' data analysis were "behavioral coping strategies" and "emotional coping strategies". Behavioral strategies such as change nutritional habits, improving lifestyle, trying to stay active, seeking help for improvement of physical and mental needs and efforts to increase knowledge and literacy about BC. The psychological strategies were denying the breast cancer, psychological empowerment, spirituality and seeking help of family and relatives. Conclusion: Our findings provide in-depth understanding of Iranian women’s strategies for coping with BC. The qualified teams of psychiatrics, oncologists and reproductive health specialists need to contribute significantly to an upgraded coping of patients to cancer that could lead to higher quality of life.
