Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Concerns and Fear of Esophageal Cancer in Relatives of Patients with Cancer: a Qualitative Study

  • Original Research
  • Published:
Journal of Gastrointestinal Cancer Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Introduction

Due to its complications and mortality, cancer is a vital public health problem and one of the most frightening diseases, and its development causes a sense of risk, problems, and discomforts for all, including family of patients. The aim of this study was to elaborate on the concerns and fear of esophageal cancer in relatives with cancer illness.

Methods

Using a content analysis approach, this qualitative study was carried out in Golestan, North of Iran, in 2018. Participants were one of the family members of a patient with esophageal cancer who were selected purposefully. Data were collected using semi-structured and deep interviews and continued until data saturation was achieved. Twenty-three participants were interviewed. Interviews were transcribed line by line and were coded and categorized, and concepts were extracted accordance with qualitative content analysis approach, using MAXQDA 11 software.

Result

Following data analysis on the concerns and fear of cancer among relatives of patients, the main themes “fear of social consequences,” “fear of treatment consequences,” “fear of psychological consequences,” “cancer phobia,” “concern about lack of information on the disease,” “fear of disease reactions,” and “fear of disease-related changes” were extracted.

Conclusions

Family of patients with esophageal cancer were afraid of disease-induced consequences and lack of knowledge about the disease. Through educating people about the symptoms of the disease, we can reduce their fears and empower them for self-caring and preventing cancer.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Vrinten C, Waller J, von Wagner C, Wardle J. Cancer fear: facilitator and deterrent to participation in colorectal cancer screening. Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention Biomarkers. 2015;24(2):400–5.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Dinkel A, Herschbach P, Berg P, Waadt S, Duran G, Engst-Hastreiter U, et al. Determinants of long-term response to group therapy for dysfunctional fear of progression in chronic diseases. Behav Med. 2012;38(1):1–5.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Vrinten C, McGregor LM, Heinrich M, von Wagner C, Waller J, Wardle J, et al. What do people fear about cancer? A systematic review and meta-synthesis of cancer fears in the general population. Psycho-oncology. 2017;26(8):1070–9.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Missel M, Birkelund R. Living with incurable oesophageal cancer. A phenomenological hermeneutical interpretation of patient stories. Eur J Oncol Nurs. 2011;15(4):296–301.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Herschbach P, Book K, Dinkel A, Berg P, Waadt S, Duran G, et al. Evaluation of two group therapies to reduce fear of progression in cancer patients. Support Care Cancer. 2010;18(4):471–9.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Schaller A, Liedberg GM, Larsson B. How relatives of patients with head and neck cancer experience pain, disease progression and treatment: a qualitative interview study. Eur J Oncol Nurs. 2014;18(4):405–10.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Kushwaha GS. A study of seeking guidance and support coping strategy of cancer patients. International Journal of Psychology and Counselling. 2014;6(5):66–73.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Ehsani M, Taleghani F, Hematti S, Abazari P. Perceptions of patients, families, physicians and nurses regarding challenges in cancer disclosure: a descriptive qualitative study. Eur J Oncol Nurs. 2016;25:55–61.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Biglu M-H, Tabatabaei S. Gastrointestinal cancers in Iran: Iranian scientists approach to gastrointestinal cancers researches in international databases. Koomesh. 2017;19(1):1–9.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Birmingham WC, Hung M, Boonyasiriwat W, Kohlmann W, Walters ST, Burt RW, et al. Effectiveness of the extended parallel process model in promoting colorectal cancer screening. Psycho-Oncology. 2015;24(10):1265–78.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  11. Moretti F, van Vliet L, Bensing J, Deledda G, Mazzi M, Rimondini M, et al. A standardized approach to qualitative content analysis of focus group discussions from different countries. Patient Educ Couns. 2011;82(3):420–8.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Bengtsson M. How to plan and perform a qualitative study using content analysis. NursingPlus Open. 2016;2:8–14.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Cronin P, Coughlan M, Smith V. Understanding nursing and healthcare research: Sage; 2014.

  14. Graneheim UH, Lundman B. Qualitative content analysis in nursing research: concepts, procedures and measures to achieve trustworthiness. Nurse Educ Today. 2004;24(2):105–12.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Erlingsson C, Brysiewicz P. A hands-on guide to doing content analysis. African Journal of Emergency Medicine. 2017;7(3):93–9.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  16. Denzin NK, Lincoln YS. Handbook of qualitative research: Sage publications, inc; 1994.

  17. Zamanzadeh V, Rahmani A, Valizadeh L, Ferguson C, Hassankhani H, Nikanfar AR, et al. The taboo of cancer: the experiences of cancer disclosure by Iranian patients, their family members and physicians. Psycho-Oncology. 2013;22(2):396–402.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Esbensen BA, Thomé B, Thomsen T. Dependency in elderly people newly diagnosed with cancer–a mixed-method study. Eur J Oncol Nurs. 2012;16(2):137–44.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Doumit MA, El Saghir N, Huijer HA-S, Kelley JH, Nassar N. Living with breast cancer, a Lebanese experience. Eur J Oncol Nurs. 2010;14(1):42–8.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Degi CL. Non-disclosure of cancer diagnosis: an examination of personal, medical, and psychosocial factors. Support Care Cancer. 2009;17(8):1101–7.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Aljubran AH. The attitude towards disclosure of bad news to cancer patients in Saudi Arabia. Ann Saudi Med. 2010;30(2):141–4.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  22. Manafi F, GH D. Fear of disease progression in patients with cancer and multiple sclerosis and its relation to emotional problems Health Psychology. Journal health Psychology. 2017;6(2):115–30.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Kohi TW, von Essen L, Masika GM, Gottvall M, Dol J. Cancer-related concerns and needs among young adults and children on cancer treatment in Tanzania: a qualitative study. BMC Cancer. 2019;19(1):1–9.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Kazdaglis G, Arnaoutoglou C, Karypidis D, Memekidou G, Spanos G, Papadopoulos O. Disclosing the truth to terminal cancer patients: a discussion of ethical and cultural issues. 2010.

  25. Esmaeili R, Ahmadi F, Mohammadi E, Janbabaei G. Determining the process of confronting with cancer: the theory of “Finding Hope And Support For Surviving” in the face of cancer. International Journal of Technical Research and Applications. 2015;24:17–22.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Horne G, Seymour J, Payne S. Maintaining integrity in the face of death: a grounded theory to explain the perspectives of people affected by lung cancer about the expression of wishes for end of life care. Int J Nurs Stud. 2012;49(6):718–26.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Cebeci F, Yangın HB, Tekeli A. Life experiences of women with breast cancer in south western Turkey: a qualitative study. Eur J Oncol Nurs. 2012;16(4):406–12.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Morowatisharifabad MA, Rahimi T, Farajkhoda T, Fallahzadeh H, Mohebi S. Exploring the feelings of Iranian women of reproductive age about health care seeking behavior: a qualitative study. Health Promot Perspect. 2018;8(1):71–8.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  29. Miedema B, Hamilton R, Easley J. From “invincibility” to “normalcy”: coping strategies of young adults during the cancer journey. Palliat Support Care. 2007;5(1):41–9.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Jawaid M, Qamar B, Masood Z, Jawaid SA. Disclosure of cancer diagnosis: Pakistani patients’ perspective. Middle East Journal of Cancer. 2010;1(2):89–94.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Faridhosseini F, Ardestani MS, Shirkhani F, editors. Disclosure of cancer diagnosis: what Iranian patients do prefer? Annals of general psychiatry; 2010: Springer.

  32. Bakhshi Biniaz R, Goudarzi M, Sahmani M, Moghaddasi M, Dehghanifard A, Vatanmakanian M, et al. Challenges in the treatment of Iranian patients with leukemia in comparison with developed countries from the perspective of specialists. Journal of Paramedical Sciences. 2014.

  33. Gurm BK, Stephen J, MacKenzie G, Doll R, Barroetavena MC, Cadell S. Understanding Canadian Punjabi-speaking South Asian women’s experience of breast cancer: a qualitative study. Int J Nurs Stud. 2008;45(2):266–76.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Chen PY, Chang H-C. The coping process of patients with cancer. Eur J Oncol Nurs. 2012;16(1):10–6.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Health Education & Promotion, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran

    Mohammad Ali Morowatisharifabad

  2. Department of Health Education & Promotion, School of Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran

    Sakineh Gerayllo

  3. Nursing Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran

    Leila Jouybari

  4. Department of Gastroenterology, Shahid Sadoghi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran

    Mohammad Kazem Amirbeigy

  5. Department of Biostatistics, Research Center of Prevention & Epidemiology of Non-Communicable Disease, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran

    Hossein Fallahzadeh

Authors
  1. Mohammad Ali Morowatisharifabad
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Sakineh Gerayllo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Leila Jouybari
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Mohammad Kazem Amirbeigy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Hossein Fallahzadeh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sakineh Gerayllo.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Informed Consent

All participants provided written informed consent to participate in the study. Also all participants consented/assented to having de-identified quotes used in publication in the consent/assent form.

Ethics Approval

The project had ethical review and approval of Medical Sciences (ethical code: IR.SSU.SPH.REC.1396.125).

Methodology

Qualitative study.

Additional information

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Morowatisharifabad, M.A., Gerayllo, S., Jouybari, L. et al. Concerns and Fear of Esophageal Cancer in Relatives of Patients with Cancer: a Qualitative Study. J Gastrointest Canc 51, 957–964 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12029-019-00335-5

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12029-019-00335-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation