Narrative medicine in patients with cancer during intravenous antiblastic therapy: a qualitative study

Patients with cancer during antineoplastic infusion therapy live an existential period characterized by experiences of profound psychological, physical, social, and spiritual changes.

To explore the patients' experiences during antineoplastic therapy using narrative medicine.

A qualitative descriptive study, utilizing content analysis, was embedded within a randomized controlled three-arm trial. The study focused on analyzing their writings expressed through narrative medicine. The narrative medicine intervention was administered immediately after the start of antineoplastic therapy. While seated in outpatient chairs, and after the infusion began, a trained nurse provided participants with a pen and notepad, explaining that they could use the next 30 min to freely write about their subjective experiences during the infusion of antineoplastic therapy.

Data from twenty-four interviews reached saturation. Content analysis identified five main categories and twelve subcategories: cognitive processes (positive thoughts, negative thoughts, memory, attention, imagination, learning); emotive processes (primary negative emotions, secondary negative emotions, primary positive emotions, secondary positive emotions); behavioral processes (positive behaviors); social processes (social relationships with healthcare professionals, social relationships with family members, social relationships with caregivers); and perceptual processes (adverse effects of antineoplastic therapy).

Our finding revealed the complex, multidimensional experiences of patients undergoing antineoplastic therapy. Narrative medicine facilitated a profound, multidimensional exploration of their experience of receiving antineoplastic therapy, addressing psychological, physical, social, and spiritual aspects.