Experiences of Spouses of Women with Breast Cancer: A Content Analysis

Younes Barani, Zeinab; Rahnama, Mozhgan; Naderifar, Mahin; Badakhsh, Mahin; Noorisanchooli, Hajar

doi:10.31557/APJCP.2019.20.10.3167

Experiences of Spouses of Women with Breast Cancer: A Content Analysis

Document Type : Research Articles

Authors

¹ Student Research Committee, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Zabol University of Medical Sciences, Zabol, Iran.

² Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Zabol University of Medical Sciences, Zabol, Iran.

³ Department of Nursing, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Zabol University of Medical Sciences, Zabol, Iran.

⁴ Lecturer, Midwifery Department, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Zabol University of Medical Sciences, Zabol, Iran.

10.31557/APJCP.2019.20.10.3167

Abstract

Introduction: In addition to the affected person, diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer also severely affects her
husband. Therefore, it is worth paying attention to the needs of husbands of women with breast cancer. Therefore, the
aim of the present study was to explain the experiences of spouses of women with breast cancer. Method: The present
study was a qualitative study with conventional content analysis approach. Purposive sampling was carried out by
selecting 6 spouses of women with breast cancer. Data were collected through semi-structured interview. The recorded
interviews were transcribed verbatim. Content analysis was used to reduce and name the data, obtain analytical codes,
and finally recognize the theme. Results: Data analysis resulted in the extraction of 4 categories of couples’ mental
challenges, multifaceted romantic meditation, multifaceted traumas caused by the disease, dual energies (inductions)
of relatives, and 12 subcategories. Conclusion: In spite of suffering from all the challenges and traumas, husbands
of women with breast cancer have not left their wives alone and have done their best to improve their lives; so, we
can raise ““Scarifying your life to save your wife’s life”” as an extract from the experience of spouses of women with
breast cancer. Knowing and understanding this point by clinical staffs and policy makers can provide pave the way for
planning to provide comprehensive support to these men.

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