This thesis is an exploration of the experiences and support needs of people who are affected by cancer. It begins with a systematic review of interventions that are designed to support children who have a parent with cancer. Critical consideration of the value of these interventions in providing desired outcomes for the child and their family is the focus of this paper. Ten evaluations, consisting of nine separate interventions were included for review. Support for the efficacy of these interventions in providing improvements across a variety of outcomes concerning child well-being, parental well-being and overall family functioning is indicated. However, these findings must be considered within the context of the methodological limitations of the current research body. Clinical implications with regard to United Kingdom service provision and intervention planning are discussed. The second paper reports on an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis study exploring the experiences of people who have had a diagnosis of, and treatment for, malignant melanoma. Six participants were recruited to this study and interviewed using semi-structured interviews. Three overarching themes emerged from the data detailing the lived experiences for these participants. A tension between whether having melanoma was a serious life event or not, finding balance and dealing with the experience and reflections on the ongoing impact upon self typified these participants’ experiences. These findings are discussed with regard to the implications for clinicians working with people who have been diagnosed with, and treated for, melanoma. The final paper is a reflective account of the researcher’s research journey. Specific focus is afforded to the development of the researcher’s relationship with the topic area and the integral role of the participant interview process within this. The influence of the research experience in shaping the researcher’s identity as a clinician is also considered, as are indications for ongoing development.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:632920 |
| Date | January 2014 |
| Creators | Mortimer, Helen |
| Publisher | University of Warwick |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Source | http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/65221/ |
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