Graduation Year

2022

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree

Ph.D.

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

Degree Granting Department

Nursing

Major Professor

Cecile A. Lengacher, Ph.D., R.N., F.A.A.N., F.A. P.OS.

Committee Member

Carmen S. Rodriguez, Ph.D., A.R.N.P., A.O.C.N.

Committee Member

Laura A. Szalacha, Ed.D

Committee Member

Jennifer Wolgemuth, Ph.D.

Keywords

Adaptation, Coping, Survivorship, Symptoms

Abstract

Breast cancer (BC) is the most prevalent type of cancer among women and the most common cancer diagnosis for all the population in the United States. Early screening and treatment for BC have improved the prognosis for breast cancer survivors (BCSs) and increased survival rate. Current evidence showed insufficient data related to BCSs’ post-treatment symptoms, coping issues, and availability and impact of educational and support programs associated with breast cancer survivorship.

The overall purpose of this qualitative data analysis research project is to explore and identify BCSs’ perceptions (post-treatment) of physical, cognitive, and psychological symptoms experienced, as well as perceptions of coping strategies learned during participation in a Breast Cancer-Education Support (BCES) program delivered as part of the R01 grant study “Efficacy of MBSR Treatment on Cognitive Impairment among Breast Cancer Survivors” (NIH Project # R01CA199160-01).

This research helped identify and inform gaps in the research evidence related to BCSs' post-treatment lived experiences and their unmet cancer survivorship needs through qualitative content analysis of BCSs’ weekly journals and survey entries. The research findings also contributed to providing new evidence to strengthen health care professionals’, communities’, and families’ understanding of BCSs’ cancer trajectory across their cancer continuum and identify unmet needs related to their survivorship. This study added valuable qualitative data to define these survivors’ real experiences and meet the knowledge gaps in this arena. As a result, it was anticipated that the care plan for cancer survivors can be tailored to individual needs and can provide data for designing cancer education and support programs to improve BCSs’ quality of life.

Directed qualitative content analysis using deductive and inductive coding, and poetic analysis were used as the research method for this study. Four key themes were identified: 1) enduring and suffering; 2) decreased quality of life; 3) coping and comforting strategies; and 4) the change of self. Eleven voice poems emerged using poetic analysis and the BCSs’ original words. Poems were attached to each theme to bring those themes to 'life' and help connect the readers emotionally to the BCSs' life experiences.

In conclusion, this study added valuable qualitative data to define BCSs’ post-treatment real life experiences based on their perceptions. This study also contributed to nursing theory by adding the suggested expansion of Morse’s Responding to Threats to the Integrity of Self theory.

Download

Share

COinS