Experiences of implementation of the group-based adaptation training intervention for patients with chronic somatic illnesses or disabilities among multi-professional teams in specialized healthcare

OBJECTIVE

To describe the experiences of multi-professional teams of implementation of group-based adaptation training intervention for patients with chronic somatic illnesses or disabilities in specialized healthcare.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Multi-professional teams (n = 7) implementing adaptation training courses for chronically ill patients in specialised healthcare were interviewed between 09/2020 and 12/2021. The themes for thematic group interviews were based on the standard protocol implementation of adaptation training in specialised healthcare, including planning, implementation and evaluation of the adaptation training courses. The interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed. The data were analysed using inductive content analysis.

RESULTS

The experiences of multi-professional teams involved using pedagogical methods, providing guidance and counselling to support the rehabilitation process, ensuring opportunities for peer support, and supporting the course participants' involvement and activities in everyday life.

CONCLUSIONS

Healthcare professionals should use pedagogical methods in reflective guidance and counselling to promote client-oriented approach in supporting adaptation. Their competence in pedagogy needs to be build and maintained by continuous education. Multi-professional teams need to ensure sufficient and versatile conditions for peer support and involvement of family members by creating open and trusting atmosphere, unhurried encounters, discussions, different and varying ways of working. Adaptation training can strengthen the self-efficacy of participants and help them shift their attention from illness and disability to thoughts of the future. Adaptation training can support active and meaningful daily life in a changed life situation.

Changes and challenges in sexual life experienced by the husbands of women with breast cancer: a qualitative study

BACKGROUND

Breast cancer (BC) in women can bring various problems to their marital and family life. Sexual life based on the experiences of the husbands of women diagnosed with BC has not been fully understood. Therefore, this research aimed to explore changes and challenges in sexual life experienced by the husbands of women diagnosed with BC.

METHODS

A qualitative research was carried out on 18 men whose wives had been diagnosed with BC at reproductive age. They were selected using purposeful sampling and were interviewed using in-depth semi-structured interviews. Collected data were analyzed using the conventional content analysis method.

RESULTS

'Sexual life suspension' was the main theme of this research. Also, 'unfulfilled sexual expectations', 'perceived barriers to satisfy sexual expectations', and 'efforts to adapt to sexual problems' were subthemes.

CONCLUSIONS

The husbands of women with BC need support to improve their sexual and marital relationships. Education and counseling about sexual life during the treatment of BC should be incorporated into the healthcare program.

Predictors of the relationship between the duration of cancer and care time with the supportive care needs of patients and the quality of life of their caregivers: a path analysis

BACKGROUND

Breast cancer (BC) patients face various physical and psychological challenges. The mutual impacts of patients and caregivers on each other show the need for further supportive care from the community and family. This study aimed to identify the predictors of the direct and indirect relationships of the duration of cancer (CANCERT) and care time (CARET) with the supportive care needs (SCN) of the patients and the quality of life (QOL) of their family caregivers.

METHODS

This descriptive study included 150 patients and their caregivers in Iran. Data were collected using the Supportive Care Needs Survey-Short Form (SCNS-SF34), the Caregiver Quality of Life Index-Cancer (CQOLC) scale, and a socio-demographic checklist. The data were then analyzed in SPSS-24 and Lisrel-8.8 software using descriptive statistics and path analysis.

RESULTS

The mean age of the patients and caregivers was 45.76 ± 10.44 and 43.46 ± 9.5, respectively. The majority of patients (96%) were in stages II and III of the disease. There was no statistically significant relationship between cancer stages with SCN of the patients and also caregivers' QOL (P > 0.05). Based on the test results, the CANCERT was positively correlated with the patients' care and support needs (SN) in total effect (β = 0.24). The patients' sexuality needs had the highest negative correlation with their CANCERT in the direct path (β =  - 0.27) and had the highest negative correlation with psychological needs in the indirect path (β =  - 0.174). The CARET (hours per day) had positive correlation with health systems and information needs in both the direct (β = 0.26) and indirect paths (β = 0.15). The highest positive correlation with physical needs was in the direct path (β = 0.34). The caregivers' QOL had a negative and direct relationship with the CANCERT (β =  - 0.19), and there was a positive and direct relationship between CARET and the caregivers' QOL (β = 0.18).

CONCLUSIONS

The correlations obtained from this study are not necessarily strong, yet they are important and should be noticed and tested in the future studies. The present findings reveal the need to provide comprehensive care, planning to provide supportive care, and counseling to both BC patients and their family caregivers, especially when the duration of the disease is prolonged.