"Probably Benign?!": Communicated Narrative Sense-Making in Patients with Benign Breast Disease

Area of Science:

• Medical Sociology
• Health Communication
• Qualitative Research

Background:

• Benign Breast Disease (BBD) is medically considered harmless.
• Patients with BBD report decreased quality of life, citing uncertainty, anxiety, and depression.
• Limited research exists on how patients interpret and make sense of BBD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the illness narratives of patients diagnosed with Benign Breast Disease.
• To understand how patients construct meaning from their BBD experience.
• To identify patient-centered communication and intervention strategies.

Main Methods:

• Thematic narrative analysis of online videos posted by BBD patients.
• Application of Frank's illness narrative typology.
• Grounded in communicated narrative sense-making theory.

Main Results:

• Chaos narratives were the predominant story type among BBD patients.
• Restitution and quest narratives were also identified.
• Narratives revealed themes of illness uncertainty management and intersectional experiences, particularly for Black and Asian women.

Conclusions:

• Patient experiences of Benign Breast Disease significantly impact quality of life.
• Illness narratives offer valuable insights into patient sense-making and coping.
• Clinical terminology and interventions should acknowledge the patient's perspective and the role of storytelling.