The Uncanny of the Illness Experience: Can Phenomenology Help?

Perspectives on health, illness, disease and management approaches among Baganda traditional spiritual healers in Central Uganda

In Uganda, spirituality is closely associated with traditional healthcare; however, though prevalent, it is considered controversial, mystical, less documented and often misunderstood. There is a paucity of literature on the description of health, illness, disease, and management approaches among traditional spiritual healers. This article examines the perspectives on health, illness, disease, and management approaches among Baganda traditional spiritual healers, the Balubaale, in Central Uganda, who engage ancestral spirits during health care and management. We used a qualitative study design in particular grounded theory. We used semi-structured, qualitative interviews and observation on 12 male and female purposively selected Balubaale in Central Uganda. Data was transcribed, coded, and thematically analyzed using ATLAS ti. 22 Computer software based on an inductive approach. Findings show that the words and concepts describing health, illness, disease, and management approaches are descriptive and contextualized to include the problem, the prospected root-causes, and the therapeutic approaches involved. The words for illness "olumbe", disease "obulwadde" and the management approaches such as divination (kulagula), ritual cleansing (kwambulula), amulets (ensiriba and yirizi), and scarification (kusandaga) have spiritual and social dimensions, contextual meanings and attachments. Further research is recommended among other tribes and larger sample size to compare findings and terminologies to facilitate communication and policy considerations.

Living with frozen shoulder. 'Here are the risks. I want the injection'. An interpretative phenomenological analysis

BACKGROUND

Frozen shoulder is a disabling condition characterised by severe pain and loss of shoulder movement and may affect up to 5% of the population. Qualitative research documents debilitating pain and how treatment to reduce pain is a priority for people diagnosed with frozen shoulder. Corticosteroid injections are a principal treatment to reduce the pain of frozen shoulder, however little is known about the patient experience.

OBJECTIVES

This study aims to address this gap in the knowledge by exploring the lived experience of people with frozen shoulder who have undergone an injection and to highlight other novel findings.

DESIGN

This is a qualitative study using interpretative phenomenological analysis. One-to-one, semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven people diagnosed with frozen shoulder who had received a corticosteroid injection as part of their management.

METHODOLOGY

A purposive sample of participants were interviewed via MSTeams™ due to Covid-19 restrictions. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews and analysed in accordance with interpretive phenomenological analysis methods.

RESULTS

Three group experiential themes were identified: the dilemma surrounding injections; the challenges of understanding the causes of frozen shoulder; the impact on self and others.

CONCLUSION

Participants conveyed a strong desire in seeking a corticosteroid injection whilst seemingly dismissing the risks. A novel concept was illuminated as frozen shoulder seemed inextricably linked with the ageing process, which negatively impacted body-image. The impact on others is driven by a sense of the unfamiliar nature of illness and it is incumbent on healthcare professionals to seek opportunities to explore the individual's beliefs.

A pathway through the uncanny: A phenomenological photovoice study of Australian university students' experiences of physical activity during COVID-19

Transition to university is associated with reduced engagement in physical activity (PA), with students' PA influenced by many individual and contextual factors. The experience of the COVID-19 pandemic is one such factor. COVID-19 has disrupted our relationships with our bodies and with others, our sense of time, and the spaces in which we live and work, resulting in reductions in PA. Based on data gathered through a phenomenological photovoice study conducted between June and December of 2020 with nine Australian university students, and informed by phenomenological writing on the uncanny, we explored how the experience of COVID-19 transformed students' lived experience of PA. PA offered students a pathway through the uncanny experience of COVID-19 by affording a way to (re)engage with others, (re)connect with spaces, make gains despite the losses, and recognise and appreciate moments of joy and reflection. This study provides novel insights that can be used to support students to meaningfully (re)engage in PA.

Illness experience and coping styles of young and middle-aged patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss: a qualitative study

Background

The incidence of Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SSNHL) is increasing and tends to occur at a young age. The patient’s disease experience during treatment is related to their physical and mental health. Effective coping styles such as proactively solving problems and asking for help will alleviate the patients’ psychological symptoms and improve their quality of life.

Aims and objectives

To explore the illness experience and coping styles of young and middle-aged patients with SSNHL (age: 18–64 years), clarify the relationship between the two, and understand the psychological state and needs of the patients.

Methods

The purposive and maximum difference sampling method was used to conduct semi-structured interviews with 23 young and middle-aged SSNHL patients. The interview data were analyzed by Colaizzi’s seven-step analysis.

Results

The illness experience of young and middle-aged SSNHL patients was complex, including symptoms during the onset of deafness and emotional experience before and after diagnosis. The coping styles of young and middle-aged SSNHL patients were active and diverse, including active acquisition of information, change in living habits, and seeking the care and attention of medical staff. Illness experience and coping style influence each other: good illness experience leads to active coping styles; active coping style results in good illness experience.

Conclusions

The illness experience of young and middle-aged SSNHL patients includes not only physical symptoms, but also changes in psychological and emotional reactions. Good illness experience can lead patients to adopt active coping style. Active and effective coping styles, such as positive acquisition of information, change in living habits and seeking care and help, can improve patients’ illness experience.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12913-021-06763-z.