Psychological coping in female breast cancer patients from a Metropolitan Lima hospital

Motivation for the study: it is important to identify the coping strategies used by women with breast cancer, in order to contribute to their physical and emotional well-being. Main findings: strategies related to the emotional sphere are used to a greater extent, and also lead to progressive acceptance of the disease. Cognitive and behavioral distractions are necessary to balance patients' daily activities. Implications: understanding how women face this disease allows the development of primary care strategies to improve their wellbeing. To understand the psychological coping strategies in female patients with breast cancer from a hospital in Metropolitan Lima.

This was a qualitative research with a reflexive thematic analysis design. Sixteen women with breast cancer between 35 and 65 years of age were interviewed. Data was analyzed with the ATLAS.ti 22 software.

Three psychological coping strategies were described: emotional coping, which was found more frequently, includes the support of important people, religious coping, and focusing on positive consequences, which leads to a positive reinterpretation and progressive acceptance of the disease; active coping, characterized by diligent action, following indications, and seeking professional support. Finally, avoidance coping, which focuses on negative elements, postponement of the coping process and cognitive and behavioral distractions, the latter being of utmost relevance to balance the activities in the patients' daily lives.

Participants used emotional coping strategies more frequently, since they tried to increase positive emotions, accompanied by religious and environmental support. In addition, they also used active coping strategies, since they focused their actions to receive medical attention and treatment, leaving aside other activities; in spite of this, they used strategies to take their focus off the condition and thus detach themselves from their worries.