The use of metaphors in non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma patients undergoing chemotherapy

• Published in: Journal of advanced nursing 2018-11, Vol.74 (11), p.2622-2629
• Main Authors: Chircop, Daren, Scerri, Josianne
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adaptation, Psychological; Adult; Aged; Antineoplastic Agents - therapeutic use; Attitude to Health; Cancer; Chemotherapy; Empowerment; Fear & phobias; Female; Hematology; Humans; Infections; Lymphoma; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin - drug therapy; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin - psychology; Male; Metaphor; Middle Aged; Narratives; non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma; nurses; Nursing; Patients - psychology; qualitative; Qualitative Research; Stress, Psychological
• ISSN: 0309-2402; 1365-2648
• DOI: 10.1111/jan.13790

Aim The aim of this study was to explore the use of metaphors by non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) patients undergoing chemotherapy in a haematology ward setting. Background There is a dearth of literature exploring the use of metaphors in people with cancer undergoing aggressive treatment. Hence, this study aims to explore the use of metaphors in NHL patients undergoing chemotherapy and additionally, examining whether the use of such metaphors has an empowering/disempowering effect. Design A qualitative design was used. Methods The participants were six adult patients diagnosed with NHL and undergoing chemotherapy. Data collection was undertaken between July 2016–December 2016. Each participant was interviewed twice using semi‐structured interviews. The data were analysed using Pragglejaz method for finding metaphors. Findings The participants used metaphors 17 times per 1,000 words to describe their experience of undergoing chemotherapy for NHL. The metaphors cited focused on aspects relating to “war”, “prison” and a “journey”. Conclusions The findings demonstrate that certain metaphors used by the study participants, such as those pertaining to “war” or a “journey”, concur with those described in narratives of people with cancer in general. However, the use of the “prison” metaphor by NHL patients undergoing chemotherapy relates particularly to their context of being isolated while undergoing treatment for fear of infection. Consequently, there is the need to interpret metaphors in relation to the specific type of illness and context. Furthermore, the findings of this study suggest that the impact of metaphors in empowering/disempowering people with cancer depends on the unique interpretation of the individual patient. 目标 本研究的目的是探讨非霍奇金淋巴瘤患者在血液科病房环境下接受化疗的隐喻的使用。 背景 在癌症患者接受积极治疗的情况下,很少有文献探讨使用隐喻的方法。因此,本研究的目的是探讨在接受化疗的非霍奇金淋巴瘤患者中使用隐喻的方法,并研究这种隐喻的使用是否具有增强或削弱治疗效果的作用。 设计 使用了定性设计。 方法 受试者是6名被确诊为非霍奇金淋巴瘤并接受化疗的成年患者。主要收集2016年7月至2016年12月之间的数据。每位受试者都接受了两次半结构化访谈。同时,使用了Pragglejaz方法对数据进行分析,以寻找隐喻措辞。 发现 受试者在每1000个单词中使用17次隐喻来描述他们接受非霍奇金淋巴瘤化疗的经历。这些比喻主要集中在与“战争”“监狱”和“旅程”相关的方面。 结论 研究结果表明,研究受试者使用的某些比喻,如与“战争”或“旅程”有关的隐喻,与在一般癌症患者的叙述中所描述的相似。然而,在接受化疗的非霍奇金淋巴瘤患者使用“监狱”的隐喻,尤其与他们在接受治疗时因害怕感染而被隔离的情况有关。因此,有必要解释与特定的疾病类型和背景相关的隐喻。此外,这项研究的发现表明,隐喻在增强/减弱癌症患者的能力上的影响取决于对个体患者的独特解释。