| 1. |
- Alander, Malin Emma Johanna, et al.
(author)
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Lived experiences and caring needs in young adults diagnosed with cancer
- 2021
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In: Nursing Forum. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 0029-6473 .- 1744-6198. ; 56:4, s. 781-790
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Aims and Objectives: To explore the lived experience of young adults diagnosed with cancer and to increase our understanding of how to help them with their caring needs. Background: Being diagnosed with cancer is normally related with an existential crisis. This indicates that the individual cannot avoid thoughts of death, loneliness, guilt, and meaninglessness. In person-centered care, the caretaker should have a holistic view of the person. Professionals must meet the patient´s different needs to strengthen health and well-being for the diagnosed. This approach encourages the traditionally passive patient to become an active consumer who works in partnership with the healthcare provider. Design: For this study, a content analysis of narratives was conducted, targeting age groups of 20–29 to take part of young adults' experiences. Methods: Qualitative analysis of narratives and followed checklist (e.g., COREQ). Results: During the analyzing phase, two main themes emerged: Interactions with Professionals and Cancer Voyager. In the results, both positive and negative feelings regarding encounters and support received from the professionals were described, this affected the young adults' well-being and their ability to participate during treatments. The young adults felt as being on a journey with no control over which direction the road may take. Conclusion: Outcome of the result shows the importance of making the young adult, one in a team. When working in a person-centered way, patients gain control by owning their own responsibility during treatments. Implications for Nursing Practice: There is a need in nursing education to address existential matters, to make nursing students ready to be approach but such questions in their professional work. Also, we believe that the experienced nurse must be given means to feel confident to handle questions about existential matters. By developing skills in the area of e-Health, collaboration through support groups, and last but not least switching to patient-centered care, we can offer effective and evidence-based care tailored for this population.
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| 2. |
- Klaeson, Kicki, 1960-, et al.
(author)
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Losing the Elixir of Life : Sexuality in the Context of Prostate Cancer Narratives
- 2012
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In: Qualitative Health Research. - : Sage Publications. - 1049-7323 .- 1552-7557. ; 22:9, s. 1184-1194
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In this phenomenological paper we explored how men diagnosed with prostate cancer experienced their sexuality from a lifeworld perspective. One essential meaning was identified: “having the elixir of life stolen”. This essential meaning had four constituents: “something that no longer exists”, “the threat to manhood”, “intimacy” and “staged manhood”. The lifeworld for these men comprised the dynamic interaction between being deprived of their “life’s elixir” and their ability to have and experience intimacy. The men were preoccupied with embodied experiences unfamiliar to them. They mourned the loss of sexuality in connection with their new life situation which threatened their identity. Their female partner was a great support, and with her the man could picture himself and at best renegotiate his sexuality. In the future, cancer care should be organized so as to enable all aspects of sexuality to be acknowledged and discussed.
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| 3. |
- Klaeson, Kicki, et al.
(author)
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Sexual Health in Primary Healthcare : A Qualitative Study of Nurses' Experiences
- 2017
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In: Journal of Clinical Nursing. - : Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Inc.. - 0962-1067 .- 1365-2702. ; 26:11-12, s. 1545-1554
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Aim and objectives: To illuminate nurses’ experiences and opportunities to discuss sexual health with patients in primary healthcare.Background: Sexual health is a concept associated with many taboos and research shows that nurses feel uncomfortable talking to patients about sexual health and therefore avoid it. This avoidance forms a barrier between patient and nurse which prevents nurses from giving satisfactory healthcare to patients.Design: A qualitative descriptive design.Method: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine nurses in primary healthcare in Sweden. Data were analysed by using qualitative content analysis.Results: During the analysis phase, five subcategories and two main categories were identified. The two main categories were: “Factors that influence nurses’ opportunities to talk to patients about sexual health” and “Nurses’ experiences of talking to patients about sexual health”. Social norms in society were an obstacle for health professionals’ opportunities to feel comfortable and act professionally. The nurses’ personal attitude and knowledge were of great significance in determining if they brought up the topic of sexual health or not. The nurses found it easier to bring up the topic of sexual health with middle-aged men with for example diabetes. One reason for this is that they found it easier to talk to male patients. A further reason is the fact that they had received training in discussing matters of sexual health in relation to diabetes and other conditions affecting sexual health.Conclusion: Nurses in primary care express the necessity of additional education and knowledge on the subject of sexual health. The healthcare organization must be reformed to put focus on sexual health.Relevance for clinical practiceGuidelines for addressing the topic of sexual health must be implemented to establish conditions that will increase nurse's knowledge and provide them with the necessary tools for discussing sexual health with patients.
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| 4. |
- Klaeson, Kicki, 1960-, et al.
(author)
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Sexual identity following breast cancer treatments in premenopausal women
- 2008
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In: International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-being. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1748-2623 .- 1748-2631. ; 3:3, s. 185-192
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The phenomenon in focus for this study was the sexual identity preserved in premenopausal women due to breast cancer treatments. During the last decade the methods of breast cancer treatments have become more aggressive and many women have had to undergo surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, as well as three to five years of hormone therapy. All these forms of treatment can have negative side effects on their sexual capability. The purpose of this study was to describe the meaning structure and the constituents of sexual identity in the lifeworld of premenopausal women. Six informants who had become menopausal following cancer treatment were interviewed about their experiences related to their sexual identity. Their ages varied between 38 and 48 years. The empirical phenomenological psychological (EPP) method was used. The meaning structure of the phenomenon could be symbolized using the metaphor of a bird which is pinioned and unable to fly. The women perceived their sexual identity as being inhibited in different ways. They felt odd and marginalized as women, and it was only within a support group that they felt completely confirmed. A future challenge for the health care professionals would be to care for their patients on the basis of their lifeworld experiences.
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| 5. |
- Klaeson, Kicki, 1960-
(author)
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Sexuality in the aftermath of breast and prostate cancer : Gendered experiences
- 2011
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Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Sexuality is a sensitive topic in health care and is often interpreted through a natural scientific lens as just corresponding to sexual dysfunction and fertility problems. The purpose of this thesis was to describe sexuality and its outcomes in two cancer populations. Women with breast cancer and men with prostate cancer in all stages were invited to participate. In this thesis, these two populations are restricted to age groups between 45 and 65 years, since there are reasons to believe that younger people are more vulnerable to sexuality changes. Lifeworld, gender, and sexuality are three concepts of importance in this thesis and they are used from the viewpoint of nursing care.Phenomenological interviews (I, III) and focus group interviews (II, IV) were carried out with a total number of 46 informants. The EPP-method (Empirical Phenomenological Psychological) was used (I, III) in order to grasp the lived experience, and qualitative content analysis was used to analyse the seven focus groups (II, IV).The lifeworld experiences of those women and men were comparable. The changes brought by the cancer and its treatment were a threat to their very existence, their existential base of knowledge had gone and alienation occurred (I, III). For the women, this was illustrated through the metaphor of a bird which is pinioned and unable to fly anymore. For the men it was expressed in the essential meaning “to lose the elixir of life”. Both women and men suffered, sexuality changed from one day to another and they handled it individually. Changed body appearance, and feeling old and unattractive were, for the women, the dominating features, whilst for the men changed desire and erection problems were their main concerns. The findings from the group discussions (II, IV) elucidate the gendered differences in these two contexts. The aim of the women was to look healthy and attractive and for the men the ability to have an erection was important. Neither of these two groups of people was able to meet their aims. On the other hand, being diagnosed with a life-threatening disease they were not in a position to claim preserved sexuality. This opens up existential questions that need to be confirmed in health care. To succeed in this, a change of perspective is required in health care. It should be possible to use human science to the same extent as natural science in health care.
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| 6. |
- Klaeson, Kicki, et al.
(author)
-
Sexuality in the Context of Prostate Cancer Narratives
- 2012
-
In: Qualitative Health Research. - : SAGE Publications. - 1049-7323 .- 1552-7557. ; 22:9, s. 1184-1194
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In this study we explored how men diagnosed with prostate cancer experienced their sexuality from a lifeworld perspective. One essential meaning was identified: "having the elixir of life stolen." This essential meaning had four constituents: "something that no longer exists," "the threat to manhood," "intimacy," and "staged manhood." The lifeworld for these men comprised the dynamic interaction between being deprived of their "life's elixir" and their ability to have and experience intimacy. The men were preoccupied with embodied experiences unfamiliar to them. They mourned the loss of sexuality in connection with their new life situation that threatened their identity. Their female partner was a great support, and with her the man could picture himself and at best renegotiate his sexuality. In the future, cancer care should be organized so as to enable all aspects of sexuality to be acknowledged and discussed.
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| 7. |
- Klaeson, Kicki, 1960-, et al.
(author)
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Talking About Sexuality : Desire, Virility, and Intimacy in the Context of Prostate Cancer Associations
- 2008
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Other publication (other academic/artistic)abstract
- The number of middle-aged men with a diagnosis of prostate cancer has increased in recent decades. The aim of this study was therefore to explore how some of these middle-aged men experienced and talked about their sexuality. Four focus group discussions were performed in the context of associations for prostate cancer. Using qualitative content analysis, it was identified how the diagnosis was a threat to their male identity; the men‟s vulnerability as a group in society was made explicit. Their sexuality was diminished by their illness experiences, which was also connected with silence and sorrow. Their contact with health care services was precarious and as patients they often played a passive role when or if discussing issues of sexuality. The possibility of voluntarily joining a cancer association was probably highly beneficial for these men. During the sessions, several men expressed the opinion that it is always great to talk.
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| 8. |
- Klaeson, Kicki, et al.
(author)
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Talking about sexuality : desire, virility, and intimacy in the context of prostate cancer associations
- 2013
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In: American Journal of Men's Health. - : Sage Publications. - 1557-9883 .- 1557-9891. ; 7:1, s. 42-53
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Prostate cancer and its outcomes are a real threat for health and well-being for men living in the Western world. The number of men with a diagnosis of prostate cancer, before the age of 65 years, has increased in recent decades. The aim of this study was to explore how some of these Swedish men experienced and talked about their sexuality. Four focus group discussions were performed in the context of associations for prostate cancer. Using qualitative content analysis, it was identified how the diagnosis was a threat to their male identity; the men's vulnerability as a group in society was made explicit. Their sexuality was diminished by their illness experiences. These experiences were difficult to share and talk about with others and therefore connected with silence and sorrow. As a result of this, the informants often played a passive role when or if they discussed issues related to sexuality with someone in the health care organizations. The possibility of voluntarily joining a cancer association was probably highly beneficial for these men. During the sessions, several men expressed the opinion that "it is always great to talk."
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| 9. |
- Klaeson, Kicki, et al.
(author)
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The character of nursing students' critical reflection at the end of their education
- 2017
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In: Journal of Nursing Education and Practice. - Toronto : Sciedu Press. - 1925-4040 .- 1925-4059. ; 7:5, s. 55-61
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: In nursing education, theoretical and practical knowledge are intertwined and integrated in the prospective nurses’ lifeworld. To enable this, and to develop a critical reflective approach, students should adopt a critical attitude. This study aims to gain a deeper understanding of the character of prospective nurses’ critical reflection.Methods: This is a descriptive qualitative study. Data were gathered using written narratives, individual and focus group interviews. Qualitative content analysis was employed.Results: Three themes were identified: being open to changes, distancing oneself, and challenging one’s understanding. In the first theme, students’ critical reflection was expressed through an openness to changes of self-perception and openness to professional development during the education. In the second theme, critical reflection was identified as variations on distancetaking.Inserting distance from a direct experience makes the experience easier to process, understand and relate to the learner’s concept of nursing. In the third theme, courage to question what was taken for granted is identified as a necessity to challenging self-understanding and willingness to engage in uncertainty.Conclusions: It would appear that the academic part of training, with the possibility of reflection in small groups, provides students with conceptual tools for reflective learning as well as giving them the opportunity to relate critically to professional practice and to the professional nurse role.
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| 10. |
- Klaeson, Kicki, et al.
(author)
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To feel like an outsider : focus group discussions regarding the influence on sexuality caused by breast cancer treatment
- 2011
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In: European Journal of Cancer Care. - : Blackwell. - 0961-5423 .- 1365-2354. ; 20:6, s. 728-737
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The aftermath of breast cancer treatment, especially the sexual side effects, appears to be a neglected issue in developed society. The purpose of this study was to explore how middle-aged women treated for a breast cancer experienced their sexual identity connected to the community norms and values in the society as a whole. Three focus group interviews were conducted, with a total of 12 women. The discussions were analysed using qualitative content analysis. The main theme to feel like an outsider symbolises the womens situation after breast cancer treatment. They experienced their body in a wholly new unfamiliar way, which affected their sexuality in a deep and profound way. This feeling affected their female roles and overshadowed earlier experiences in life. All their female roles were suddenly vague and this was expressed in various ways across each of the four subthemes: to feel different, the unruly body, eroticism is not what it used to be and re-evaluating. From a nursing perspective, there appears to be a definite challenge to identify the womens own unique sexual needs in the rehabilitation transition and to use the skills from all team professionals to improve sexual health in this context.
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