Myrna Doumit

Defense Date

3-24-2006

Graduation Date

Spring 2006

Availability

Immediate Access

Submission Type

dissertation

Degree Name

PhD

Department

Nursing

School

School of Nursing

Committee Chair

Joan Such Lockhart

Committee Member

Gladys L. Husted

Committee Member

Huda Huijer

Keywords

cancer, in depth interview, palliative care, Phenomenology, Purposive sampling, Utrecht School

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to uncover the lived experience of Lebanese oncology patients receiving palliative care. The study design was based on the Utrecht School of phenomenology based on the Dutch school of phenomenology. This study followed purposeful sampling in which ten participants six women and four men with a mean age of 54.4 years were selected. The proposed research was approved by the Institutional Review Boards at the American University of Beirut and Duquesne University. In-depth semi-structured interviews along with observation-field notes were used as the source for data collection. Data were analyzed using the hermeneutic phenomenological approach based on the Utrecht School of Phenomenology. The participants highlighted their distress from being dependent; their dislike for pity; their worry for the family and the worry about the family's worry; their reliance on God and divinity; their dislike of the hospital stay; their need to be productive; their fear of pain; and the impact of communication on them. Specific nursing action to help decreasing patients fear include exploring patients' ideas, beliefs and experiences regarding pain and analgesics treatment, and encouraging patients' participation through proper communication. Nursing education need to emphasize palliative care in the curricula. At the policy level, policy makers need to take into account patients' needs while deciding on national health policy. Further research is suggested to explore the new emerging themes and to study the lived experience of caregivers of cancer patients.

Format

PDF

Language

English

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