OBJECTIVE: To explore the cancer coping experiences of middle-aged adults aged 40-59 and older adults over 60.
METHODS: A descriptive phenomenological study was employed.
METHODS: Face-to-face, in-depth, semistructured interviews were conducted with 22 oncology patients in a tertiary university hospital aged 40 or above from August to October 2023. The interview data were analyzed using thematic analysis procedures.
RESULTS: Five themes and 13 subthemes were formed through analysis: acceptance of cancer (considering cancer as chronic, believing in fate and attributing cancer to karma); having different information needs (desired to be truthfully informed, information-seeking behaviour, information avoidance behaviour); getting families involved (developing dependent behaviours, feeling emotional support, family members suffering worse); striving to maintain positive psychological state (positive thinking, seeking peer support) and negative experience (undesirable, low self-esteem).
CONCLUSIONS: Our study reveals that cancer survivors\' attitudes towards having cancer have changed from a death sentence to a more positive perception of a chronic disease. Supportive programmes for developing coping strategies should consider the cultural traditions and religious beliefs, different information needs, involvement of family and promoting a positive psychological state while avoiding negative factors.
UNASSIGNED: Participants with experience of coping with cancer were involved in the semistructured interview.
目的:探讨40~59岁中年人和60岁以上老年人的癌症应对经验。
方法:采用描述性现象学研究。
方法:面对面,深入,在2023年8月至10月期间,我们对22名40岁或以上的三级大学医院肿瘤患者进行了半结构化访谈.访谈数据采用主题分析程序进行分析。
结果:通过分析形成了五个主题和13个子主题:接受癌症(将癌症视为慢性,相信命运并将癌症归因于业力);具有不同的信息需求(希望被如实告知,寻求信息的行为,信息回避行为);让家庭参与(发展依赖行为,感受情感支持,家庭成员的痛苦更糟);努力保持积极的心理状态(积极思考,寻求同伴支持)和负面体验(不受欢迎的,低自尊)。
结论:我们的研究表明,癌症幸存者对癌症的态度已经从死刑转变为对慢性病的更积极的看法。制定应对策略的支持性方案应考虑文化传统和宗教信仰,不同的信息需求,家庭参与,促进积极的心理状态,同时避免消极因素。
■具有应对癌症经验的参与者参与了半结构化访谈。