Opsomer Sophie, Joossens Sofie, De Wit Claudia, Lauwerier Emelien, Pype Peter
Sophie Opsomer, MD, is general practitioner and lecturer, Department of Health and Social Work, University Colleges Leuven-Limburg, Belgium. Sofie Joossens, PhD, MSc, is lecturer and dietician, Department of Health and Social Work, University Colleges Leuven-Limburg, Belgium. Claudia De Wit, BaSc, is student and dietician, Department of Health and Social Work, University Colleges Leuven-Limburg, Belgium. Emelien Lauwerier, PhD, MSc, is teaching assistant, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, and is scientific staff member, Department of Family Medicine and Primary Health Care, Ghent University, Belgium. Peter Pype, MD, PhD, is general practitioner and postdoctoral assistant, Department of Family Medicine and Primary Health Care, Ghent University; and is researcher, End-of-Life Care Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium.
J Hosp Palliat Nurs. 2018 Oct;20(5):492-499. doi: 10.1097/NJH.0000000000000471.
Cancer and nutrition-related problems are extremely distressing events and disturb functioning and daily life. It is recognized that the effects of stressors challenging well-being are mediated by the meaning attached to these stressors. As nutrition-related problems are often being experienced within couples, it is also important to gain understanding of a partner's interpretation of complaints and whether it coincides with that of the patient.To explore the meaning attached to nutrition-related problems, a qualitative approach was followed. Seven couples, each composed of a patient with cancer and his/her cohabiting life partner, participated. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and analyzed by an interpretative phenomenological approach.Nutrition-related problems among patients with advanced cancer are mostly perceived as destroying health and leading to loss of physical, psychological, and social health symbols. Because the meaning patients and their partners attach to nutrition-related problems is individual and dynamic, it is necessary to devote special attention to the issues on different occasions.The study findings can assist nurses and other professional caregivers in providing psychological support for couples confronted with nutrition-related problems in advanced cancer. It is important to take into account the meaning patients and partners attach to these nutrition-related problems.
癌症和营养相关问题是极其令人苦恼的事情，会干扰身体机能和日常生活。人们认识到，挑战幸福感的压力源的影响是由人们赋予这些压力源的意义所介导的。由于营养相关问题常常在夫妻双方中出现，了解伴侣对这些问题的理解以及其是否与患者的理解一致也很重要。为了探究赋予营养相关问题的意义，我们采用了定性研究方法。七对夫妻参与了研究，每对夫妻由一名癌症患者及其同居伴侣组成。通过深度访谈收集数据，并采用解释现象学方法进行分析。晚期癌症患者的营养相关问题大多被视为损害健康，并导致身体、心理和社会健康象征的丧失。由于患者及其伴侣赋予营养相关问题的意义是个体的且动态变化的，因此有必要在不同情况下特别关注这些问题。研究结果可以帮助护士和其他专业护理人员为面临晚期癌症营养相关问题的夫妻提供心理支持。考虑患者及其伴侣赋予这些营养相关问题的意义很重要。
