6.1.1 Patient and partner experiences of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma symptoms and help-seeking behaviour: The relevance of psychophysiological comparison theory (311)

Christine Wall, Senior Lecturer in Nursing, School of Nursing and Primary Care Practise, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, United Kingdom

Abstract:

Aim:

The aim of this Descriptive Phenomenological study was to identify in-depth the holistic experiences of the patient and partner during the period leading up to the diagnosis of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.

Methods:

Ethical approval was gained from relevant bodies and a purposive sample of 40 patients and 14 partners was recruited. The interview was the chosen method of data collection and all participants were interviewed in their own homes between 2002 and 2004. A reflective open-ended question and semi-structured questions were used as a guide. 31 patient interviews and 10 partner interviews were transcribed for further analysis.

Results:

The transcribed interviews were analysed using a phenomenological data analysis method based on Colaizzi (1978). Common essences arising from the analysis included the patients’ symptom experience and help-seeking behaviour. Patients became actively or passively aware of symptoms and developed either a sudden or a gradual realisation of symptom significance. Patients and partners created various attributions as their symptoms developed and described differing help-seeking behaviours. Most patients sought help within a short timeframe but some delayed seeking help for several months. Patients described being assessed by health care professionals in relation to the speed in which doctors were alerted to their symptoms. Most doctors picked up on symptoms promptly, but some patients experienced long delays until referral for further investigation.

Discussion:

The findings of this study will be discussed in relation to Psychophysiological Comparison Theory (PCT), which is a theory of attribution developed by Andersen and Cacioppo (1990). The relevance of findings will also be discussed in relation to the role of the health care professional in the assessment of patients and partners during the pre-diagnosis period of illness.

Recommended reading list:

  • Andersen, B.L., Cacioppo, J.T. (1990) Secondary and Tertiary prevention: Psychophysiological Comparison Theory and its role in understanding patient delay Cancer Prevention Vol.1, pp.122-126
  • Colaizzi, P. (1978) Psychological research as the phenomenologist views it. In Valle R.S King M (Eds) Existential Phenomenological Alternatives for Psychology. Oxford University Press New York
  • Husserl, E. (1965) Phenomenology and the Crisis of Philosophy. Philosophy as a rigorous science. Philosophy and the crisis of European man. Lauer, Q. (Trans) New York NY Harper and Row

Source of Funding: N/A

Amount in Funding: N/A

Biography:

I completed my Registered Nurse Training in Adult Care in 1979 and thereafter undertook the ENB100 Intensive Care Course, and worked as a first level nurse on an intensive care unit for two years. Following on from this I was a Ward Manager within a Gastro Enterology environment where I worked until 1985 when my career turned towards teaching. I then became a Nurse teacher for Pre-and Post Registration students. In 1991 I gained my B.Ed (Hons) Degree and was awarded my M.Phil in 1998. More recently I have completed and been awarded my PhD. I currently teach research methods and evidence based to health care professionals and am also involved in a qualitative research study which is being undertaken by the Nursing group from the Merseyside and Cheshire Cancer Network