This study explores the facilitation of preparation for breast cancer
surgery. The aim of the study was to develop a reasonably comprehensive
scheme of categories that would describe, from the perspective of women
with breast cancer, what facilitates or hinders positive psychological
preparation for breast cancer surgery and, therefore, identify and
conceptually organize a broad array of these experiences.
The research method involved interviews with 30 women who
underwent an operation for breast cancer 6-12 months prior to their
interviews. The Critical Incident Technique was used to collect and analyze
the data. The women were interviewed and asked to recall incidents that
were helpful or hindering in their preparation for a breast cancer surgery.
A total of 362 incidents from 30 participants were collected,
analyzed, and placed into categories. These incidents were organized into
twenty-three categories: Receiving Educational Materials and/or
Information; Obtaining an Explanation of Medical Procedures or Problems;
Discussing Problems with Loved One; Getting Support and
Encouragement from Others; Being Accompanied to a Medical
Appointment; Helping Others; Engaging Oneself in Physical and Creative
Activities; Developing Helpful Habits; Taking Action on Realizing Own
Mortality; Experiencing Physical Closeness; Experiencing Deep Emotional
Closeness; Realizing Shift in Relationship with Loved Ones; Healing
Through Spiritual Experience and Visualization; Changing Perspective
Through Comparison; Using Inspiring, Comforting Material; Getting
Alternative Treatment; Establishing Professional Communication; Waiting
for Medical Results; Sharing Experiences in Support Groups and
Counseling; Perceiving Professional Manners; Experiencing Positive
Medical Settings; Getting a Recommendation/Approval of Medical
Personnel, Questioning Competence of Medical Care or Personnel.
The data also included information about participants' decision-making
process regarding the type of operation for breast cancer and some
observations on them were drawn.
Several procedures were used to examine validity, soundness and
trustworthiness of the categories and subcategories. Three narrative
accounts were analyzed in an effort to provide meaning and action to these
categories.
The findings of this study may serve as a basis for better
understanding of the process of preparation for breast cancer surgery.
Through further examination of the categories and narratives some
suggestions and recommendation for research and practice were made.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:BVAU.2429/11338 |
| Date | 11 1900 |
| Creators | Cerna, Zuzana |
| Source Sets | Library and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Relation | UBC Retrospective Theses Digitization Project [http://www.library.ubc.ca/archives/retro_theses/] |
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