Assessing the Expression of Emotions in Breast Cancer Survivors during the Time of Recovery: Perspective from Focus Groups

Breast cancer has major public health implications, as it is the most frequent malignant tumor and the leading cause of cancer death in women. Survivors have many needs, including strategies to cope with the associated distress. We explore whether focus groups are useful for nurses to obtain informa...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of environmental research and public health 2022-08, Vol.19 (15), p.9672
Main Authors: Sanchez, Leticia, Fernandez, Nelida, Calle, Angela P, Ladera, Valentina, Casado, Ines, Bayon, Enrique, Garcia, Isaias, Sahagun, Ana M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adaptation, Psychological
Breast cancer
Breast Neoplasms - psychology
Cancer Survivors
Cancer therapies
Coping
Data analysis
Data collection
Emotional factors
Emotions
Female
Focus Groups
Humans
Illnesses
Informed consent
Nurses
Participation
Public health
Survival
Survivors - psychology
Tumors
Womens health
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Summary:Breast cancer has major public health implications, as it is the most frequent malignant tumor and the leading cause of cancer death in women. Survivors have many needs, including strategies to cope with the associated distress. We explore whether focus groups are useful for nurses to obtain information about the emotional state of breast cancer women, and develop strategies for coping with the stress that this disease entails. A qualitative study was carried out, involving 25 focus groups with 83 women treated for breast cancer, recruited from the local Breast Cancer Association (ALMOM). Four open-ended questions were employed, and 60-min discussions were carried out. They were transcribed, analyzed, coded, and the themes identified. Four major themes emerged, including "complex emotional evolution", "emotional isolation", "lack of information" and "inability to give advice". Women admitted that this disease had been a stressful factor for them, causing emotional (anxiety, irritability, anger or guilt) and cognitive disorders (confusion, lack of concentration, forgetfulness). The use of focus groups in breast cancer survivors allows nurses to evaluate the expression of emotions in these women, and collect and share information about their feelings, thoughts and experiences, so that survivors can cope more easily with the stress related to their illness.
ISSN:1660-4601
1661-7827
1660-4601
DOI:10.3390/ijerph19159672