Experience of uncertainty in prostate cancer: A qualitative study
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View abstract on PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.Uncertainty is a constant challenge for men with prostate cancer, affecting their emotional well-being and relationships throughout treatment and survivorship. Understanding these experiences is key to providing better care.
Area Of Science
- Oncology
- Psychosocial Oncology
- Qualitative Health Research
Background
- Prostate cancer care often overlooks the lived experience of uncertainty for men.
- Existing research focuses narrowly on informational needs and pre-treatment phases.
- Uncertainty beyond informational gaps and post-treatment experiences remains underexplored.
Purpose Of The Study
- To explore men's experiences of uncertainty throughout their prostate cancer journey.
- To inform the development of more holistic and responsive cancer care.
- To address the gap in understanding long-term uncertainty in prostate cancer.
Main Methods
- Conducted individual semi-structured interviews with 12 men diagnosed with prostate cancer.
- Included men undergoing or who had completed active treatment.
- Utilized reflexive thematic analysis for data interpretation.
Main Results
- Identified four themes: aspects of uncertainty (trajectory, relationships, future), initial responses (distress, avoidance), management strategies (coping, adaptation), and posttraumatic growth.
- Uncertainty is pervasive, impacting psychological adjustment.
- Positive changes (posttraumatic growth) can emerge from navigating uncertainty.
Conclusions
- Uncertainty is a persistent element in prostate cancer survivorship, complicating adjustment.
- Support interventions must address informational, emotional, and relational aspects of uncertainty.
- Promoting openness, acceptance, perspective-taking, values-driven living, and dyadic adjustment is crucial.
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