Related Experiment Videos
Adaptation to suffering. Meaning and implications for nursing
1Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, School of Nursing, USA.
Clinical Nursing Research
|May 1, 1997
Summary
This study explored the meaning of suffering in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS). Findings reveal a progression from shock to finding meaning, supporting the adaptation to suffering model.
Area of Science:
- Nursing
- Qualitative Research
- Health Psychology
Background:
- Nurses frequently encounter patient suffering, yet scientific inquiry into the suffering experience remains limited.
- Understanding the subjective experience of suffering is crucial for effective patient care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the meaning of suffering in individuals diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS).
- To examine the adaptation process and identify stressors and coping strategies related to suffering in MS.
Main Methods:
- A qualitative study employing semistructured interviews with 20 subjects diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
- Utilized the adaptation to suffering model as a conceptual framework.
Main Results:
- Identified key stressors associated with multiple sclerosis and helpful coping strategies.
- Subjects' responses demonstrated a hierarchical progression in adapting to suffering: shock, denial, acceptance, understanding, and finding meaning.
- Rank ordering of responses illustrated the evolving components of adaptation over the illness duration.
Conclusions:
- Findings support the adaptation to suffering model.
- Assisting patients in finding meaning in their suffering experiences is vital for adaptation and well-being in chronic illness.