Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu Province, China.
Affiliated Hospital, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu Province, China.
Eur J Oncol Nurs. 2023 Dec;67:102427. doi: 10.1016/j.ejon.2023.102427. Epub 2023 Oct 11.
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.
A qualitative study was conducted by interviewing 20 colorectal cancer patients and 15 spousal caregivers. Inductive thematic analysis was used to analyze the transcripts.
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.
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.
癌症患者夫妻之间的相互沟通是一个复杂的过程。需要更多的研究来探索相互沟通的复杂过程及其在不同文化背景下各种因素所呈现的细微差别。性别是婚姻关系中一个重要的考虑因素。因此，我们旨在探索中国结直肠癌患者夫妻之间的相互沟通过程，并考虑到性别因素。
采用定性研究方法，对 20 名结直肠癌患者和 15 名配偶照顾者进行了访谈。采用归纳主题分析对转录本进行分析。
提出了三个主题（相互沟通和支持互动、沟通质量以及相互沟通和协作的基础）。发现性别对情感表露和沟通挑战有特定影响。构建了一个初步的“微笑”框架，以展示三个主题之间的关系以及三个主题与结直肠癌患者夫妻心理社会适应之间的关系。
研究结果表明结直肠癌患者夫妻之间存在复杂的相互沟通过程，以及性别因素的影响。研究结果将有助于开发更有效的基于结直肠癌患者夫妻的相互沟通干预措施。建议卫生保健工作者从关系话题、情感表露和沟通技巧三个方面改善结直肠癌患者夫妻之间的相互沟通。指导夫妻双方同时处理每个主题及其之间的关系，有助于他们回归并微笑面对正常生活。
