The symptom experience and self-management strategies of women undergoing cervical cancer treatment: A qualitative study
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The symptom experience and self-management strategies of women undergoing cervical cancer treatment : A qualitative study. / Christiansen, Mille Guldager; Piil, Karin; Jarden, Mary.
I: Cancer Nursing, Bind 45, Nr. 1, 2022, s. 12-20.Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskrift › Tidsskriftartikel › Forskning › fagfællebedømt
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TY - JOUR
T1 - The symptom experience and self-management strategies of women undergoing cervical cancer treatment
T2 - A qualitative study
AU - Christiansen, Mille Guldager
AU - Piil, Karin
AU - Jarden, Mary
N1 - Publisher Copyright: Copyright © 2021 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.
PY - 2022
Y1 - 2022
N2 - Background: Cervical cancer treatment modalities, such as surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and brachytherapy, often result in short- and long-term adverse effects such as nausea, fatigue, and sexual dysfunction. Chemotherapy and radiation are typically provided on an outpatient basis, requiring women to be more active in self-managing their symptoms at home. Objective: The aim of this study was to explore how women with cervical cancer experience symptoms and manage daily life during treatment. Methods: Individual interviews with 10 women diagnosed with cervical cancer and undergoing curative concurrent chemotherapy and radiation were carried out. Data analysis was conducted using a phenomenological-hermeneutic perspective, inspired by Ricoeur. Results: Three themes were identified based on the interviews: (1) new life perspectives, (2) suffering in silence, and (3) enhanced symptom self-management strategies. Conclusion: Diagnosis and treatment create an opportunity for the women to critically reflect on their lives and to develop new life perspectives. During treatment, a mental transformation involving the use of various individual social, mental, and physical coping strategies allowed the women to manage their daily lives. This enabled self-management strategies, resulting in maintaining a sense of normalcy, trying to defy the adverse effects, and prioritizing themselves, their families, and the treatment. Implications for Practice: Women with cervical cancer undergoing oncological treatment need more specific and detailed information about the course of treatment, symptom management, adverse effects, and psychological reactions to better manage their daily lives. Healthcare professionals play a crucial role in supporting and guiding the women and in ensuring optimal symptom management.
AB - Background: Cervical cancer treatment modalities, such as surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and brachytherapy, often result in short- and long-term adverse effects such as nausea, fatigue, and sexual dysfunction. Chemotherapy and radiation are typically provided on an outpatient basis, requiring women to be more active in self-managing their symptoms at home. Objective: The aim of this study was to explore how women with cervical cancer experience symptoms and manage daily life during treatment. Methods: Individual interviews with 10 women diagnosed with cervical cancer and undergoing curative concurrent chemotherapy and radiation were carried out. Data analysis was conducted using a phenomenological-hermeneutic perspective, inspired by Ricoeur. Results: Three themes were identified based on the interviews: (1) new life perspectives, (2) suffering in silence, and (3) enhanced symptom self-management strategies. Conclusion: Diagnosis and treatment create an opportunity for the women to critically reflect on their lives and to develop new life perspectives. During treatment, a mental transformation involving the use of various individual social, mental, and physical coping strategies allowed the women to manage their daily lives. This enabled self-management strategies, resulting in maintaining a sense of normalcy, trying to defy the adverse effects, and prioritizing themselves, their families, and the treatment. Implications for Practice: Women with cervical cancer undergoing oncological treatment need more specific and detailed information about the course of treatment, symptom management, adverse effects, and psychological reactions to better manage their daily lives. Healthcare professionals play a crucial role in supporting and guiding the women and in ensuring optimal symptom management.
KW - Activities of daily living
KW - Adjuvant
KW - Chemotherapy
KW - Qualitative research
KW - Radiation
KW - Self-management
KW - Signs and symptoms
KW - Uterine cervical neoplasms
U2 - 10.1097/NCC.0000000000000843
DO - 10.1097/NCC.0000000000000843
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 32675630
AN - SCOPUS:85119251117
VL - 45
SP - 12
EP - 20
JO - Cancer Nursing
JF - Cancer Nursing
SN - 0162-220X
IS - 1
ER -
ID: 288778116