| Learning Objective #1: Describe psychosocial needs of unmarried women with breast cancer | |||
| Learning Objective #2: Identify implications for health care providers to promote positive psychosocial adjustment to breast cancer in unmarried women |
Problem/Objective: Breast cancer is a significant health problem among women. These women often journey through a maze of treatment alternatives with a wide array of physical, emotional, interpersonal and social implications. Although there is growing evidence that women with supportive husbands seem to adjust reasonably well, little is known about the impact of breast cancer among women with primary support systems other than the traditional married relationship. Unmarried women with breast cancer may have very special adjustment needs, however, they have not been studied as a group in a systematic way. The purpose of this study is to describe the psychosocial adjustment needs of unmarried women with breast cancer during the late post operative recovery phase. Methods: During data collection for a preliminary study of psychosocial adjustment to breast cancer in 101 unmarried women, a large amount of supplementary data were collected in the form of narrative comments from participants. This included perceptions and information not part of the fixed response items on the data collection instruments. The present study analyzed this rich source of untapped descriptive data through the process of content analysis. Themes describing the needs of unmarried women with breast cancer were determined. Findings: Needs were categorized as those related to: (1) the health care system, (2) physical well-being, (3) emotional well-being, and (4) social support. Rich examples from the transcribed data are provided to support the themes. In addition analysis of item means from fixed response quantitative data collection tools were used to provide qualified support for the needs assessment based upon the qualitative data. Implications: It is anticipated that the information from this study, along with the quantitative data, will help nurses and other health care professionals understand factors which contribute to positive adjustment to breast cancer in unmarried women and guide nursing interventions.
Back to Women's Health Promotion
Back to 14th International Nursing Research Congress
Sigma Theta Tau International
10-12 July 2003