Asian Oncol Nurs.  2013 Mar;13(1):18-27. 10.5388/aon.2013.13.1.18.

Husbands' Caring Experiences for Women with Breast Cancer in Korea

Affiliations
  • 1Graduate School of Nursing, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea. etrangere@snu.ac.kr
  • 2College of Nursing, Research Institute of Nursing Science, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.

Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of the study was to describe the caring experiences of husbands for women with breast cancer in Korea.
METHODS
The data were collected by individual in-depth interviews with seven participants during 2010-2012. Transcribed data were analyzed using Colaizzi's phenomenological analysis.
RESULTS
A total of 10 theme clusters were derived from the analysis: Hidden fear of world without wife; Responsibility with guilt for breast cancer; Desperate search for treatment information; Becoming active companion of treatment itinerary; Comfort for wife's hair loss with sympathy; Multitasks undertaken at one time; Gain and loss by coming out publically; Wife-oriented open communication; New alternative sexual life; Everyday life matured by hardship.
CONCLUSION
The results of the study can help oncology professionals in developing couple counseling programs by providing insights of the husbands' experiences of caring for women with breast cancer.

Keyword

Breast Neoplasms; Qualitative Research; Caregivers; Spouses

MeSH Terms

Breast
Breast Neoplasms
Caregivers
Counseling
Female
Friends
Guilt
Hair
Humans
Korea
Qualitative Research
Spouses

Cited by  3 articles

Experiences of Spouses of Patients with Hematologic Malignancies: Finding a Way to Get Out of the Endless Tunnel
Youngshin Lee, Youngran Tak
Asian Oncol Nurs. 2016;16(1):46-57.    doi: 10.5388/aon.2016.16.1.46.

Experiences of Distress among Family Caregivers of Hospitalized Cancer Patients
Juhye Jin, Jin-Hee Yoo
Korean J Adult Nurs. 2017;29(5):451-462.    doi: 10.7475/kjan.2017.29.5.451.

Do spouse burden of care, family resilience, and coping affect family function in gynecologic cancer in Korea?: a cross-sectional study
Minkyung Kim, Sukhee Ahn
Korean J Women Health Nurs. 2022;28(3):197-209.    doi: 10.4069/kjwhn.2022.08.03.


Reference

1. National Cancer Center. Cancer facts & figures 2011 in the Republic of Korea. Accessed October 30, 2012. http://www.cancer.go.kr/ncic/cics_g/cics_g02/cics_g027/1646908_6065.html.
2. Kwon EJ, Yi M. Distress and quality of life in breast cancer survivors in Korea. Asian Oncol Nurs. 2012. 12:289–296.
Article
3. Thewes B, Butow P, Girgis A, Pendlebury S. The psychosocial needs of breast cancer survivors; a qualitative study of the shared and unique needs of younger versus older survivors. Psychooncology. 2004. 13:177–189.
Article
4. Tam Ashing K, Padilla G, Tejero J, Kagawa-Singer M. Understanding the breast cancer experience of Asian American women. Psychooncology. 2003. 12:38–58.
Article
5. Suh YO. Predictors of quality of life in women with breast cancer. J Korean Acad Nurs. 2007. 37:459–466.
Article
6. Lee YS. Psychosocial experience in post-mastectomy women. Korean J Soc Welf. 2007. 59:99–124.
Article
7. Ha EH, Lee SH, Jeong J, Lee HD, Lee JE, Nam SJ, et al. Biopsychosocial predictors of the quality of life in breast cancer patients. J Breast Cancer. 2010. 13:219–226.
Article
8. Cheon SS, Choi SY. A Study on the relationship among family support, stress and quality of life on according to the phases of illness in breast cancer patients. Korean J Women Health Nurs. 2010. 16:10–19.
Article
9. Lee IJ. Breast Cancer in marital context: a critical review of the literature. Korean J Soc Welf Stud. 2009. 40:37–61.
Article
10. Chung C, Hwang E, Hwang S. Marital intimacy and quality of life in women with breast cancer. J Korean Oncol Nurs. 2009. 9:122–128.
11. Lopez V, Copp G, Molassiotis A. Male caregivers of patients with breast and gynecologic cancer: experiences from caring for their spouses and partners. Cancer Nurs. 2012. 35:402–410.
12. Bigatti SM, Brown LF, Steiner JL, Miller KD. Breast cancer in a wife: how husbands cope and how well it works. Cancer Nurs. 2011. 34:193–201.
13. Wilson S, Morse JM. Living with a wife undergoing chemotherapy. Image J Nurs Sch. 1991. 23:78–84.
Article
14. Morse JM, Johnson JL. The illness experience. 1991. Newbury Park: Sage.
15. Carlson LE, Ottenbreit N, Pierre MS, Bultz BD. Partner understanding of the breast and prostate cancer experience. Cancer Nurs. 2001. 24:231–239.
Article
16. Kim Y, Kashy DA, Wellisch DK, Spillers RL, Kaw CK, Smith TG. Quality of life couples dealing with cancer: dyadic and individual adjustment among breast and prostate cancer survivors and their spousal caregivers. Ann Behav Med. 2008. 35:230–238.
Article
17. Lethborg CE, Kissane D, Burns WI. 'It's not the easy part': the experience of significant others of women with early stage breast cancer, at treatment completion. Soc Work Health Care. 2003. 37:63–85.
18. Lindholm L, Rehnsfeldt A, Arman M, Hamrin E. Significant others' experience of suffering when living with women with breast cancer. Scand J Caring Sci. 2002. 16:248–255.
Article
19. Morgan MA. Considering the patient-partner relationship in cancer care: coping strategies for couples. Clin J Oncol Nurs. 2009. 13:65–72.
Article
20. Romero C, Lindsay JE, Dalton WT, Nelson DV, Friedman LC. Husbands' perceptions of wives' adjustment to breast cancer: the impact on wives' mood. Psychooncology. 2008. 17:237–243.
Article
21. Wagner CD, Bigatti SM, Storniolo AM. Quality of life of husbands of women with breast cancer. Psychooncology. 2006. 15:109–120.
Article
22. Kim YL, Yoo MS. A study on the relationship between the burden and the social support of family caregivers of breast cancer patients. Korean J Fam Welf. 2008. 13:5–24.
23. Chung C, Hwang E. Couples' experiences of breast cancer in Korea: a descriptive qualitative study. Cancer Nurs. 2012. 35:211–220.
24. Colaizzi PF. Psychological research as the phenomenologist views it. Existential-phenomenological alternatives for psychology. 1978. Oxford University Press;48–71.
25. Guba EG, Lincoln YS. Effective evaluation: improving the usefulness of evaluation results through responsive and naturalistic approaches. 1981. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
26. Sandelowski M. The problem of rigor in qualitative research. ANS Adv Nurs Sci. 1986. 8:27–37.
Article
27. Park EY, Yi M. Illness experience of women with breast cancer in Korea: using feminist phenomenology. J Korean Acad Adult Nurs. 2009. 21:504–518.
28. Lee GN, Lee DS. Sexual experiences of women with breast cancer. J Korean Oncol Nurs. 2011. 11:210–220.
Article
29. Yi M, Son HM. Experiences of sexual life of Korean women with breast cancer : descriptions from focus groups and interviews. J Korean Acad Fundam Nurs. 2010. 17:187–199.
Full Text Links
  • AON
Actions
Cited
CITED
export Copy
Close
Share
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
Similar articles
Copyright © 2024 by Korean Association of Medical Journal Editors. All rights reserved.     E-mail: koreamed@kamje.or.kr