'I-We' boundary fluctuations in couple adjustment to rectal cancer and life with a permanent colostomy

Mutual communication processes within Chinese colorectal cancer patient-spousal caregiver dyads: A qualitative study of taking gender into account

PURPOSE

Mutual communication within cancer couples is a complex process. More research is needed to explore the complex process of mutual communication and its nuances presented by various factors in different culture contexts. Gender, a factor embedded in marital relationships, is an important consideration. We thus aim to explore the mutual communication process within Chinese colorectal cancer couples and take gender into account.

METHODS

A qualitative study was conducted by interviewing 20 colorectal cancer patients and 15 spousal caregivers. Inductive thematic analysis was used to analyze the transcripts.

RESULTS

Three themes (mutual communication and support interaction, communication quality, and foundation of mutual communication and collaboration) were developed. Gender was found to have specific impact on emotional disclosure and communication challenges. A preliminary framework of "smile" was constructed to demonstrate the relationship among the three themes and the relationships between the three themes and dyads' psychosocial adaptation to colorectal cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

Study findings demonstrate complex mutual communication processes within colorectal cancer couples and the impact of gender. The findings will contribute to developing more effective colorectal cancer couple-based mutual communication interventions. Health practitioners are suggested to improve mutual communication within colorectal cancer couples in three aspects: relational topics, emotional disclosure and communication skills. Guiding couples to deal with each theme and the relationship among the themes simultaneously is helpful for them to return and smile to their normal life.

LIVING WITH AN INTESTINAL OSTOMY AND URINARY INCONTINENCE

ABSTRACT Objective: to understand how aged people with intestinal ostomies experience this situation together with urinary incontinence. Method: a qualitative, descriptive and exploratory research study, developed with 77 aged individuals with intestinal ostomies assisted by the Unified Health System, in four municipalities from the Metropolitan Region of Florianópolis. Data collection was conducted using semi-structured interviews from October 2019 to February 2020. The theoretical framework used was Dorothéa Orem's Self-Care Theory and the data were submitted to content analysis, in its thematic modality. Results: the analysis allowed generating three thematic categories: 1) Feelings generated by the intestinal ostomy and urinary incontinence: acceptance, denial, fear, insecurity, constraints experienced due to the ostomy and to the urinary incontinence symptoms; 2) Lifestyle changes; and 3) Deficit in self-image. Conclusion: it was evidenced that, for most of the research participants, it is difficult to accept the experience of living with an intestinal ostomy and urinary incontinence, which generally produce negative feelings. However, the participants proved to be resilient and able to adapt to the changes in lifestyle. Many of these behaviors are due to the health professionals' important contribution in providing them the necessary attention, encouraging self-care strategies in both situations.

CONVIVENDO COM ESTOMIA INTESTINAL E A INCONTINÊNCIA URINÁRIA

RESUMO Objetivo: compreender como o idoso com estomia intestinal vivencia essa situação em conjunto com a incontinência urinária. Método: pesquisa qualitativa, descritiva e exploratória, desenvolvida junto a 77 idosos com estomia intestinal atendidos pelo Sistema Único de Saúde, em quatro municípios da Região Metropolitana de Florianópolis. A coleta de dados foi realizada de outubro/2019 a fevereiro/2020, por meio de entrevista semiestruturada. O referencial teórico utilizado foi a Teoria de Autocuidado de Dorothéa Orem; os dados foram submetidos à análise de conteúdo, na modalidade temática. Resultados: a análise permitiu a geração de três categorias temáticas: 1) sentimentos gerados pela estomia intestinal e pela incontinência urinária: aceitação, negação, medo, insegurança, constrangimentos vivenciados pela estomia e os sintomas da incontinência urinária; 2) alterações do estilo de vida; 3) déficit na autoimagem. Conclusão: evidenciou-se que para a maioria dos participantes da pesquisa é difícil aceitar a vivência com estomia intestinal e incontinência urinária, que geralmente lhes provocam sentimentos negativos. No entanto, os participantes mostraram-se resilientes e aptos a se adaptar às mudanças no estilo de vida. Muitos desses comportamentos se devem à importante contribuição dos profissionais da saúde em dar-lhes a necessária atenção, estimulando estratégias de autocuidado em ambas as situações.

The correlation between intimate relationship, self-disclosure, and adaptability among colorectal cancer enterostomy patients

The postoperative physiological changes and psychological pressure of cancer patients affect the patient's adaptability to the disease, and thus affect the spousal intimate relationship. This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between spousal intimate relationship, self-disclosure, and adaptability among colorectal cancer (CCI) patients with enteric stoma.This cross-sectional study selected patients with CCI in Henan Province from February 2018 to October 2020. The Marital Adjustment Test (MAT), the Distress Disclosure Index scale, and the Ostomy adjustment inventory-20 scale were used to collect relevant data of the participants. A Pearson correlation analysis was used to test the correlation between variables, and multiple stepwise regression analysis was used to test the influence of general information on the intimate relationship, self-disclosure, and adaptability.Among the respondents, 42.6% had a spousal intimate relationship problem, 58.4% had a low or moderate level of self-disclosure, and 90.8% were at a low or moderate level of adaptation. Education background, self-care ability, and postoperative time were associated with a couple's intimate relationship. Average monthly household income, gender, and place of residence were associated with self-disclosure. Self-care ability, average monthly household income, postoperative time, and educational background were associated with adaptation.Healthcare workers should provide more health education training to guide CCI enterostomy patients to express their thoughts and feelings with each other increase self-disclosure, so as to enhance their intimate relationship then improve their adoption to ostomy, finally elevate their quality of life.

Distúrbio na imagem corporal: diagnóstico de enfermagem e características definidoras em pessoas ostomizadas

Objetivo: identificar en la literatura las características definidoras del diagnóstico de enfermería disturbio en la imagen corporal en estudios desarrollados con personas ostomizadas. Métodos: se trata de una investigación bibliográfica, en la modalidad revisión integradora de la literatura, descriptiva y con enfoque cualitativo, realizada en noviembre del 2015, en las bases de datos Literatura Latinoamericana y del Caribe en Ciencias de la Salud, Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online, Índice Bibliográfico Español de Ciencias de la Salud, PubMed Central, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Web of Science y SciVerse Scopus. El análisis se llevó a cabo por medio de consulta a la taxonomía NANDA-I, con la que se buscó identificar las características definidoras del diagnóstico en cuestión. Resultados: la muestra fue de 43 publicaciones, en las que se identificaron 14 de las 37 características definidoras que componen el diagnóstico estudiado. Conclusiones: los estudios señalan relaciones entre el disturbio en la imagen corporal y alteraciones en la sexualidad, restricciones sociales, cambios en el estilo de vida y calidad de vida.