Journeys Toward Growth: A Qualitative Study on Motivation for Healing, Coping Strategies, and Areas of Growth among Iban Cancer Survivors
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33736/jcshd.4782.2022Keywords:
cancer, motivating factors, coping strategies, growth, thematic analysisAbstract
This study explored cancer survivors’ life experiences in moving towards growth. Four Iban participants were interviewed and the data were thematically analysed. This paper concludes that the cancer diagnosis impacts participants mentally, emotionally, and physically. Spiritual strategy is the most used coping strategy, and participants were highly motivated by social support. Participants also reported to experience growth mostly in the area of relationship with others. It implies that the findings of this study are able to expand posttraumatic growth (PTG) among Asians literatures and contribute as references for counsellors and psychologists to develop appropriate psychological interventions that suit the patients’ culture. Further explorations on the spiritual and social elements for psychological interventions among Asian cancer patients are recommended.
References
Abdolghani Abdollahimohammad, Mohammadreza Firouzkouhi, & Mahin Naderifar. (2019). Lived experiences of iranian cancer patients after survival: A phenomenological research. Journal of Patient Experience, 6(2), 164-168. https://doi.org/10.1177/2374373518800783
https://doi.org/10.1177/2374373518800783
Alase, A. (2017). The Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA): A guide to a good qualitative research approach. International Journal of Education and Literacy Studies, 5 (2), 9-19. https://doi.org/10.7575/aiac.ijels.v.5n.2p.9
https://doi.org/10.7575/aiac.ijels.v.5n.2p.9
Arnedo, C. O., Sánchez, N., Sumalla, E. C., & Casellas-Grau, A. (2019). Stress and growth in cancer: Mechanism and psychotherapeutic intervention to facilitate a constructive balance. Frontiers in Psychology, 1-12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00177
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00177
Azizah AM, Hashimah B, Nirmal K, Siti Zubaidah AR, Puteri NA, Nabihah A, . . . Azlina AA. (2019). Malaysia national cancer registry report. Putrajaya: National Cancer Institute Malaysia.
Belpame, N., Kars, M. C., Deslypere, E., Rober, P., Hecke, A. V., & Verhaeghe, S. (2019). Living as a cancer survivor: A qualitative study on the experiences of Belgian adolescents and young adults (AYAs) after childhood cancer. Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 49, 20-35.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedn.2019.07.015
Bronner, M. B., Nguyen, M. H., Smets, E. M., van de Ven, A. W., & van Weert, J. C. (2018). Anxiety during cancer diagnosis: Examining the influence of monitoring coping style and treatment plan. Psycho-oncology, 27 (2), 661-667. https://doi.org/10.1016/ j.pedn.2019.07.015
https://doi.org/10.1002/pon.4560
Casellas-Grau, A., Ochoa, C., & Ruini , C. (2017). Psychological and clinical correlates of posttraumatic growth in cancer: A systematic and critical review. Psycho-oncology, 26 (12), 2007-2018. https://doi.org/10.1002/pon.4426
https://doi.org/10.1002/pon.4426
Cordova, M. J., Riba, M. B., & Spiegel, D. (2017). Post-traumatic stress disorder and cancer. The Lancet Psychiatry, 4(4), 330-338. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(17)30014-7
https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(17)30014-7
Drend Jores , Abdul Rahim Abdullah, & Md Mizanur Rahman. (2021). Association between Preventive Behaviour on Colorectal Cancer. Malaysian Journal of Public Health Medicine, 21(1), 190-197. https://doi.org/10.37268/mjphm/vol.21/no.1/art.774
https://doi.org/10.37268/mjphm/vol.21/no.1/art.774
Englera, J., Adami, S., Adam, Y., Keller, B., Repke, T., Fügemanna, H., . . . Holmberg, C. (2016). Using others' experiences. Cancer patients' expectations and navigation of a website providing narratives on prostate, breast and colorectal cancer. Patient Education and Counseling, 99 (8),1325 - 1332.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2016.03.015
Gabriel, I., Creedy, D., & Coyne, E. (2020). A systematic review of psychosocial interventions to improve quality of life of people with cancer and their family caregivers. Nursing Open, 7 (5), 1299-1312. https://doi.org/10.1002/nop2.543
https://doi.org/10.1002/nop2.543
Globocan, I. A. (2020). World Health Organization - Malaysia. Retrieved from https://gco.iarc.fr/today/data/factsheets/populations/458-malaysia-fact-sheets.pdf.
Gudat, H., Ohnsorge , K., Streeck , N., & Rehmann-Sutter , C. (2019). How palliative care patients' feelings of being a burden to others can motivate a wish to die. Moral challenges in clinics and families. Bioethics, 33, 421 430. https://doi.org/10.1111/bioe.12590.
https://doi.org/10.1111/bioe.12590
Hillen, M. A., de Haes, H. C., & Smets, E. M. (2011). Cancer patients' trust in their physician-A review. Psycho-oncology, 20, 227 241. https://doi.org/10.1002/pon.1745.
https://doi.org/10.1002/pon.1745
Hosseini, F., Alavi, N. M., Mohammadi, E., & Sadat, Z. (2021). Motivation for Healing in Cancer Patients: A Qualitative Study. Iranian Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Research, 26(6) 555-561.
Inan, S. F., & Ustun, B. (2020). Post-traumatic growth in the early survival phase: from Turkish breast cancer survivors' perspective. European Journal of Breast Health, 16 (1), 66-71. https://doi.org/10.5152/ejbh.2019.5006
https://doi.org/10.5152/ejbh.2019.5006
Jacqlyn Patricia Jelani, & Salmah Jan Noor Muhammad. (2018). The Influence of Animism on the Customs and Culture of the Iban Community. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 8 (8), 763-774. https://doi.org/10.6007/IJARBSS/v8-i8/4631
https://doi.org/10.6007/IJARBSS/v8-i8/4631
Jin , S., Zheng, L., Wen, J., & Miao, M. (2021). The relationship between active coping and hope during the COVID-19 pandemic: The mediating role of meaning in life. Journal of Health Psychology, 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1177/13591053211062347.
https://doi.org/10.1177/13591053211062347
Leong Abdullah, M. F., Hami, R., Appalanaido, G., Mohd Shariff, N., & Md Sharif, S. S. (2019). Diagnosis of cancer is not a death sentence: examining posttraumatic growth and its associated factors in cancer patients. Journal of Psychosocial Oncology, 37, 636-651. https://doi.org/10.1080/07347332.2019.1574946.
https://doi.org/10.1080/07347332.2019.1574946
Linton, R. E., Daker, M., Khoo, A. S., Choo, D., Viljoen, M., & Neilsen , P. M. (2021). Nasopharyngeal carcinoma among the Bidayuh of Sarawak, Malaysia: History and risk factors. Oncology Letters, 22 (1), 514. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2021.12775
https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2021.12775
Mehrnoosh Akhtari-Zavare, Sherina Mohd-Sidik, Ummavathy Periasamy, Lekhraj Rampal, Siti Irma Fadhilah, & Rozi Mahmud. (2018). Determinants of quality of life among Malaysian cancer patients. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes, 16 (163), 1-17. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12955-018-0989-5.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12955-018-0989-5
Menger, F., Nurul Asyiqin Mohammed Halim, Rimmer, B., & Sharp, L. (2021). Post-traumatic growth after cancer: a scoping review of qualitative research. Supportive Care in Cancer, 29, 7013-7027. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-021-06253-2
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-021-06253-2
Muir, C. S., & Oakley , W. F. (1967). Nasopharyngeal cancer in Sarawak (Borneo). The Journal of Laryngology & Otology, 81(2), 197-208. https://doi.org/ 10.1017/s0022215100066950.
https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022215100066950
Nik Ruzyanei Nik Jaafar, Norhaliza Abd Hamid, Nur Amirah Hamdan, Rama Krsna Rajandram , Raynuha Mahadevan, Mohd Razif Mohamad Yunus, . . . Mohammad Farris Iman Leong Bin Abdullah. (2021). Posttraumatic Growth and Coping Strategies Among Patients With Head and Neck Cancer: Do Approach Coping and Avoidant Coping Predict Posttraumatic Growth Over Time? Frontiers in Psychology 12 (716674), 1-10 . https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.716674.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.716674
Pahlevan Sharif, S., Lehto, R., Amiri, M., Ahadzadeh, A., Sharif Nia, H., Haghdoost, A., . . . Goudarian, A. (2021). Spirituality and quality of life in women with breast cancer: The role of hope and educational attainment. Palliative and Supportive Care, 19 (1), 55-61. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1478951520000383.
https://doi.org/10.1017/S1478951520000383
Pai, A., Suris, A., & North, C. (2017). Posttraumatic stress disorder in the DSM-5: Controversy, change, and conceptual considerations. Behavioral Sciences, 13 (7), 1-7. https://doi.org/ 10.3390/bs7010007
https://doi.org/10.3390/bs7010007
Paredes, A. C., & Pereira, M. G. (2018). Spirituality, distress and posttraumatic growth in breast cancer patients. Journal of Religion and Health, 57, 1606-1617. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-017-0452-7.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-017-0452-7
Peng, X., Su, Y., Huang, W., & Hu, X. (2019). Status and factors related to posttraumatic growth in patients with lung cancer. Medicine, 98 (7), 1-6. https://doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000014314
https://doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000014314
Raque-Bogdan, T. L., Hoffman, M. A., Joseph, E. C., Ginter, A. C., White, R., Schexnayder, K., & Piontkowski, S. (2018). Everything is more critical: A qualitative study of the experiences of young breast cancer survivors. Counseling and Values, 63(2), 210-231. https://doi.org/10.1002/cvj.12089
https://doi.org/10.1002/cvj.12089
Rich, G. J., & Sirikantraporn, S. (2020). Posttraumatic Growth and Resilience in Southeast Asia. In L. C. Waelde , & M. R. Hechanova, Resistance, Resilience, and Recovery from Disasters: Perspectives from Southeast Asia (Community, Environment and Disaster Risk Management, Vol. 21) (pp. 143-158). Bingley: Emerald Publishing Limited. https://doi.org/10.1108/S2040-726220200000021009
https://doi.org/10.1108/S2040-726220200000021009
Sanjida, S., McPhail, S. M., Shaw, J., Couper, J., Kissane, D., Price, M. A., & Janda, M. (2018). Are psychological interventions effective on anxiety in cancer patients? A systematic review and meta-analyses. Psycho-oncology 27 (9), 2063-2076. https://doi.org/10.1002/pon.4794.
https://doi.org/10.1002/pon.4794
Schliemann, D., Roshidi Ismail, Donnelly, M., Cardwell, C. R., & Tin , T. S. (2020). Cancer symptom and risk factor awareness in Malaysia: Findings from a nationwide cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health, 20 (464), 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-08581-0.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-08581-0
Sharif Nia, H., Lehto, R. H., Seyedfatemi , N., & Mohammadinezhad, M. (2021). A path analysis model of spiritual well-being and quality of life in Iranian cancer patients: A mediating role of hope. Supportive Care in Cancer, 29, 6013-6019. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-021-06172-2.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-021-06172-2
Smith, J. A., & Osborn, M. (2015). Interpretative phenomenological analysis as a useful methodology for research on the lived experience of pain. British Journal of Pain, 9 (1), 41-42. https://doi.org/10.1177/2049463714541642
https://doi.org/10.1177/2049463714541642
Tedeschi, R. G., & Calhoun, L. G. (2004). TARGET ARTICLE: Posttraumatic growth: Conceptual foundations and empirical evidence. Psychological Inquiry, 15 (1), 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327965pli1501_01
https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327965pli1501_01
Tedeschi, R. G., Shakespeare-Finch, J., Taku, K., & Calhoun, L. G. (2018). Posttraumatic Growth : Theory, Research and Applications. New York: Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315527451
https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315527451
Yi, J. C., & Syrjala, K. L. (2017). Anxiety and depression in cancer survivors. Medical Clinics of North America, 101 (6),1099-1113. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mcna.2017.06.005
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mcna.2017.06.005
Zsuzsanna Tanyi, Zsuzsanna Mirnics, Andrea Ferenczi, Máté Smohai2, Veronika Mészáros, Dóra Kovács, . . . Zsuzsanna Kövi. (2020). Cancer as a source of posttraumatic growth: A brief review. Psychiatria Danubina, 32 (4), 401-411. PMID: 33212443
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright Transfer Statement for Journal
1) In signing this statement, the author(s) grant UNIMAS Publisher an exclusive license to publish their original research papers. The author(s) also grant UNIMAS Publisher permission to reproduce, recreate, translate, extract or summarize, and to distribute and display in any forms, formats, and media. The author(s) can reuse their papers in their future printed work without first requiring permission from UNIMAS Publisher, provided that the author(s) acknowledge and reference publication in the Journal.
2) For open access articles, the author(s) agree that their articles published under UNIMAS Publisher are distributed under the terms of the CC-BY-NC-SA (Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-Share Alike 4.0 International License) which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, for non-commercial purposes, provided the original work of the author(s) is properly cited.
3) The author(s) is/are responsible to ensure his or her or their submitted work is original and does not infringe any existing copyright, trademark, patent, statutory right, or propriety right of others. Corresponding author(s) has (have) obtained permission from all co-authors prior to submission to the journal. Upon submission of the manuscript, the author(s) agree that no similar work has been or will be submitted or published elsewhere in any language. If submitted manuscript includes materials from others, the authors have obtained the permission from the copyright owners.
4) In signing this statement, the author(s) declare(s) that the researches in which they have conducted are in compliance with the current laws of the respective country and UNIMAS Journal Publication Ethics Policy. Any experimentation or research involving human or the use of animal samples must obtain approval from Human or Animal Ethics Committee in their respective institutions. The author(s) agree and understand that UNIMAS Publisher is not responsible for any compensational claims or failure caused by the author(s) in fulfilling the above-mentioned requirements. The author(s) must accept the responsibility for releasing their materials upon request by Chief Editor or UNIMAS Publisher.
5) The author(s) should have participated sufficiently in the work and ensured the appropriateness of the content of the article. The author(s) should also agree that he or she has no commercial attachments (e.g. patent or license arrangement, equity interest, consultancies, etc.) that might pose any conflict of interest with the submitted manuscript. The author(s) also agree to make any relevant materials and data available upon request by the editor or UNIMAS Publisher.
