'Only to reconcile with it'. The coping experience amongst middle-aged and older cancer survivors: A qualitative study

作者全名："He, Yi; Zhao, Wei; Duan, An; Xiao, Hong; Zhou, Xuemei; Zhuo, Qiqi"

作者地址："[He, Yi; Zhao, Wei; Duan, An; Xiao, Hong; Zhou, Xuemei; Zhuo, Qiqi] Chongqing Med Univ, Dept Canc Ctr, Affiliated Hosp 2, Chongqing, Peoples R China; [Zhuo, Qiqi] Chongqing Med Univ, Dept Canc Ctr, Affiliated Hosp 2, 288 Tianwen Rd, Chongqing, Peoples R China"

通信作者："Zhuo, QQ (通讯作者)，Chongqing Med Univ, Dept Canc Ctr, Affiliated Hosp 2, 288 Tianwen Rd, Chongqing, Peoples R China."

来源：HEALTH EXPECTATIONS

ESI学科分类：SOCIAL SCIENCES, GENERAL

WOS号：WOS:001200443300001

JCR分区：Q2

影响因子：3

年份：2024

卷号：27

期号：2

开始页：　

结束页：　

文献类型：Article

关键词：cancer; cancer survivors; coping; middle-aged; older; qualitative research

摘要："BackgroundCancer threat is relevant to age, and the threat of a foreshortened life coupled with a lengthy treatment process negatively affects middle-aged and older adults. Understanding the coping throughout the cancer experience in middle-aged and older cancer survivors will help develop supportive care to promote their physiological and psychological coping effects.ObjectivesTo explore the cancer coping experiences of middle-aged adults aged 40-59 and older adults over 60.DesignA descriptive phenomenological study was employed.MethodsFace-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.ResultsFive 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).ConclusionOur 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.Patient or Public ContributionParticipants with experience of coping with cancer were involved in the semistructured interview."

基金机构：Nursing Scientific Research Project of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University; [HL2023-07]; [HL2022-21]

基金资助正文：The authors would like to thank all the participants who participated in the study and shared their experiences. This study was supported by the Nursing Scientific Research Project of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University [HL2023-07] and [HL2022-21].