Narrative Approach to Cancer Survivors Receiving Molecular Targeting Therapy for Cancer at Outpatient Department

Abstract

Abstract

In the present study, a narrative approach was applied to elucidat the processes providing stability in the face of changes caused in the narratives of cancer survivors receiving molecular targeting therapy for cancer at the outpatient department (hereafter, “survivors”).

The present study was a practical nursing study that combined nursing practice with research, and used a qualitative and inductive design. One of the nurse-researchers conducted a minimum of three interviews as an outpatient narrative approach, and analyzed the data using qualitative and inductive methods.

A total of 73 sequential and contextual narratives (subtitles) were identified. Narrative focused mainly on how survivors came to terms with the diagnosis of cancer and the beliefs they based their lives on, in other words the beliefs by which they lived their lives. In addition, narratives indicated that survivors realized that their emotions wavered on a daily basis despite their efforts to control them by maintaining similar routines to those they had prior to being diagnosed with cancer.

The narrative approach was thought to provide support that enables survivors, who must face the reality of a long and uncertain course of treatment, to accept and gain confidence in the way of life and beliefs they had discovered themselves in the face of various feelings. It is important in outpatient nursing to maintain an approach that supports the way of life and beliefs of survivors whenever possible, even if for only a limited time.