Managing an altered social context-Patients experiences of staying away from home while undergoing proton beam therapy

• Aim: To illuminate the experience of an altered social context for patients with primary brain tumours living away from home while undergoing proton beam therapy.Design: A descriptive, qualitative cross-sectional interview study.Methods: Nineteen patients were interviewed between December 2015-August 2016, either during (N = 7) or before and after (N = 12) their proton beam therapy. A hermeneutical analysis was performed.Results: Participants made adjustments to achieve control and well-being during the treatment period. The analysis also revealed two interrelated patterns that helped participants adjust: being part of the family from a distance and seeking affinity.Conclusion: It is important that patients receiving treatment far from home find a way to remain a part of their family and find affinity in the altered social context. Health professionals can prepare patients for the treatment period and can implement interventions to promote well-being for both patients and their relatives.

Subject headings

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Nursing (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskaper -- Omvårdnad (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Cancer and Oncology (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Cancer och onkologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin (hsv//swe)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskaper (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine (hsv//eng)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences (hsv//eng)

Keyword

brain tumour

interviews

nursing

proton beam therapy

psychological adaptation

qualitative method

radiotherapy

social context

social support

staying away from home

Brain tumor

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)