Abstract
This study investigated the experiences of patients with cancer to draw a hypothesis of emotional distress. We asked questions of 10 men who were undergoing different treatments from March 16 to September 3, 2004. Participants performed a semi-structured interview about their experiences and analysis of their responses was done. As a result, we identified the 26 concepts (ex. invalidism, uncertainty, spirituality, awareness of self-efficacy). The 26 concepts were classified to establish a hypothesis about distress based on a model of psychological stress. The distress that requires intervention by nursing specialists is considered to develop from the following factors: ‘events influencing cognitive appraisal,’ ‘events influencing emotional responses,’ ‘coping strategy,’ and ‘cognitive-behavioral responses.’ In conclusion, nurses engaged in caring for cancer patients need to understand the processes as a whole and employ these concepts in practice.
