Perceived Threats toward Esophageal Cancer among Immediate Relatives of Sufferers: a Qualitative Study

Purpose: Considering life-threatening nature of cancer and the problems that it causes for patients and families, recognizing their perspectives toward this issue is important. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine perceived threats by immediate relatives of patients with esophageal cancer. Methods: Using content analysis approach, the present qualitative study was conducted in Golestan Province (north of Iran) in 2018. Through purposive sampling, 23 immediate relatives of patients with esophageal cancer were included in the study. The research techniques included semi-structured and deep interviews. We continued data collection to ensure data saturation was achieved. All interviews were recorded, transcribed, and then analyzed with Graneheim and Lundman�s approach of conventional content analysis. The MAXQDA 11 software was applied to conduct the coding process. Results: Following data analysis, two main categories including �perceived susceptibility� and �perceived severity� were identified for perceived threats. The main category of �perceived susceptibility� comprised of four subcategory, namely, perception of individual, environmental, psychological, and nutritional predisposing factors to the disease. Four subcategories were also extracted for the �perceived severity,� including perception of physical, psychological, therapeutic, and social consequences of the disease. Conclusions: Immediate relatives of patients with esophagus cancer perceived high severity and susceptibility toward this disease and considered themselves vulnerable to this disease. Hence, they suffered from a lot of psychological stress. Development of appropriate interventions regarding the effects of disease-related individual and environmental factors and empowerment of individuals with regard to preventive disease behaviors can be an important step for improving the health of this group. Registration Number: IRCT20180725040588N1, date registered: 2 October 2018. © 2020, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature

Concerns and Fear of Esophageal Cancer in Relatives of Patients with Cancer: a Qualitative Study

Introduction: Due to its complications and mortality, cancer is a vital public health problem and one of the most frightening diseases, and its development causes a sense of risk, problems, and discomforts for all, including family of patients. The aim of this study was to elaborate on the concerns and fear of esophageal cancer in relatives with cancer illness. Methods: Using a content analysis approach, this qualitative study was carried out in Golestan, North of Iran, in 2018. Participants were one of the family members of a patient with esophageal cancer who were selected purposefully. Data were collected using semi-structured and deep interviews and continued until data saturation was achieved. Twenty-three participants were interviewed. Interviews were transcribed line by line and were coded and categorized, and concepts were extracted accordance with qualitative content analysis approach, using MAXQDA 11 software. Result: Following data analysis on the concerns and fear of cancer among relatives of patients, the main themes �fear of social consequences,� �fear of treatment consequences,� �fear of psychological consequences,� �cancer phobia,� �concern about lack of information on the disease,� �fear of disease reactions,� and �fear of disease-related changes� were extracted. Conclusions: Family of patients with esophageal cancer were afraid of disease-induced consequences and lack of knowledge about the disease. Through educating people about the symptoms of the disease, we can reduce their fears and empower them for self-caring and preventing cancer. © 2019, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature

Prevention behaviours of oesophageal cancer: Protocol for a mixed-method study é£�管ç��é¢�é�²è¡�为:æ··å��æ³�ç �究æ�¹æ¡�

Aim: The aim was to implement an educational programme for the family members of patients with oesophageal cancer on prevention behaviours in Golestan province, north of Iran. Design: In this mixed-method research, qualitative and quantitative studies will be conducted. Methods: This study will be carried out using an exploratory mixed-method design in Golestan province, north of Iran in 2018�2019. The research will include three consecutive phases. At first, a qualitative study will be carried out to determine the preventive behaviour and measures of oesophageal cancer. In this phase, the participants will be selected using the purposive sampling method. Later, semi-structured interviews will be conducted with the relatives of patients with oesophageal cancer to collect the necessary qualitative data. The second phase will include a literature review based on the information collected from the first phase. Later, a researcher-made questionnaire will be designed based on the extended parallel process model. Furthermore, a comprehensive programme will be proposed about self-care of the patients with oesophageal cancer. In the third phase, a quantitative quasi-experimental research will be conducted over two groups of participants to measure the effectiveness of this programme. This research was approved by the Ethics Committee of Yazd Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Iran in November 2017. Discussion: Educational interventions should be designed purposefully according to the needs of the target group to improve their self-care behaviours. We also expect that this research can improve the individuals' access to high-quality preventive behaviours with regard to oesophageal cancer. Trial registration: The project was registered on the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials, (registration number: IRCT20180725040588N1, date registered: 2th October 2018). © 2019 John Wiley & Sons Lt