Protocol for a longitudinal qualitative interview study: maintaining psychological well-being in advanced cancer--what can we learn from patients' and carers' own coping strategies?

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

People with advanced cancer and their carers experience stress and uncertainty which affects the quality of life and physical and mental health. This study aims to understand how patients and carers recover or maintain psychological well-being by exploring the strategies employed to self-manage stress and uncertainty.

Methods and analysis

A longitudinal qualitative interview approach with 30 patients with advanced cancer and 30 associated family or informal carers allows the exploration of contexts, mechanisms and outcomes at an individual level. Two interviews, 4-12 weeks apart, will not only enable the exploration of individuals' evolving coping strategies in response to changing contexts but also how patients' and carers' strategies inter-relate. Patient and

SUBMITTER: Roberts D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3693411 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature