Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Striving towards normality in an unpredictable situation. A qualitative interview study of how persons newly diagnosed with incurable oesophageal and gastric cancer manage everyday life

Dalhammar, Karin LU ; Kristensson, Jimmie LU ; Malmström, Marlene LU orcid and Rasmussen, Birgit H. LU (2023) In European Journal of Oncology Nursing 63.
Abstract

Purpose: Getting an incurable oesophageal or gastric cancer diagnosis is a major stressful life event associated with severe physical, psychosocial and existential challenges. To provide timely and efficient support, based on patients' experiences, the aim of the study was to explore how patients newly diagnosed with incurable oesophageal and gastric cancer manage everyday life. Method: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 patients 1–3 months after being diagnosed with incurable oesophageal or gastric cancer. Four participants were interviewed twice, which resulted in 16 interviews. Data were analysed with qualitative content analysis. Results: An overall theme, “Striving towards normality in an unpredictable situation”,... (More)

Purpose: Getting an incurable oesophageal or gastric cancer diagnosis is a major stressful life event associated with severe physical, psychosocial and existential challenges. To provide timely and efficient support, based on patients' experiences, the aim of the study was to explore how patients newly diagnosed with incurable oesophageal and gastric cancer manage everyday life. Method: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 patients 1–3 months after being diagnosed with incurable oesophageal or gastric cancer. Four participants were interviewed twice, which resulted in 16 interviews. Data were analysed with qualitative content analysis. Results: An overall theme, “Striving towards normality in an unpredictable situation”, with three related themes – “Trying to comprehend the disease”, “Dealing with the consequences of illness” and “Re-evaluating what is important in everyday life” – and seven sub-themes were identified. The participants described an unexpected and unpredictable situation, in which they strived to maintain their normal life. Amidst struggling to manage problems related to eating, fatigue and an incurable diagnosis the participants talked about the importance of focusing on the positive and normal aspects of life. Conclusions: The findings in this study point to the importance of supporting patients’ confidence and skills, particularly with regard to managing eating, so that they can hold on to their normal life as much as possible. The findings further point to the possible benefit of integrating an early palliative care approach and could provide guidance for nurses and other professionals on how to support patients post diagnosis.

(Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Early palliative care, Everyday life, Gastric cancer, Manage, Newly diagnosed Oesophageal cancer, Problems, Qualitative study, Symptoms
in
European Journal of Oncology Nursing
volume
63
article number
102302
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • pmid:36893571
  • scopus:85149789179
ISSN
1462-3889
DOI
10.1016/j.ejon.2023.102302
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
86cb110b-f62d-44e4-909b-19640815421b
date added to LUP
2023-04-24 14:15:56
date last changed
2024-06-29 03:19:20
@article{86cb110b-f62d-44e4-909b-19640815421b,
  abstract     = {{<p>Purpose: Getting an incurable oesophageal or gastric cancer diagnosis is a major stressful life event associated with severe physical, psychosocial and existential challenges. To provide timely and efficient support, based on patients' experiences, the aim of the study was to explore how patients newly diagnosed with incurable oesophageal and gastric cancer manage everyday life. Method: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 patients 1–3 months after being diagnosed with incurable oesophageal or gastric cancer. Four participants were interviewed twice, which resulted in 16 interviews. Data were analysed with qualitative content analysis. Results: An overall theme, “Striving towards normality in an unpredictable situation”, with three related themes – “Trying to comprehend the disease”, “Dealing with the consequences of illness” and “Re-evaluating what is important in everyday life” – and seven sub-themes were identified. The participants described an unexpected and unpredictable situation, in which they strived to maintain their normal life. Amidst struggling to manage problems related to eating, fatigue and an incurable diagnosis the participants talked about the importance of focusing on the positive and normal aspects of life. Conclusions: The findings in this study point to the importance of supporting patients’ confidence and skills, particularly with regard to managing eating, so that they can hold on to their normal life as much as possible. The findings further point to the possible benefit of integrating an early palliative care approach and could provide guidance for nurses and other professionals on how to support patients post diagnosis.</p>}},
  author       = {{Dalhammar, Karin and Kristensson, Jimmie and Malmström, Marlene and Rasmussen, Birgit H.}},
  issn         = {{1462-3889}},
  keywords     = {{Early palliative care; Everyday life; Gastric cancer; Manage; Newly diagnosed Oesophageal cancer; Problems; Qualitative study; Symptoms}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{European Journal of Oncology Nursing}},
  title        = {{Striving towards normality in an unpredictable situation. A qualitative interview study of how persons newly diagnosed with incurable oesophageal and gastric cancer manage everyday life}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ejon.2023.102302}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.ejon.2023.102302}},
  volume       = {{63}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}