IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/wly/jocnur/v27y2018i1-2p328-336.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Exchanging narratives—A qualitative study of peer support among surgical lung cancer patients

Author

Listed:
  • Britt Borregaard
  • Mette Spliid Ludvigsen

Abstract

Aim and objective The aim of this study was to examine how hospitalised, surgical lung cancer patients experience talking to a former patient, and how the former patient experiences the role as supportive. Background During hospitalisation, patients often create a community in which they can engage with fellow patients. The exchange of experiences with others in a similar situation might increase opportunities for support and complement nursing care, but there is a need for more evidence and understanding on the topic. Design The methodological framework is based on the French philosopher Paul Ricoeur's text interpretation theory. Qualitative interviews were conducted with nine patients, including a peer informant, using a narrative structure. The analysis was conducted on three levels: (i) naïve reading, (ii) structural analysis and (iii) critical interpretation . Results Four themes were developed from the analysis of the interviews: Exchanging emotional thoughts is easier with a peer; Talking to a peer reduces loneliness; Being ambiguous about a relationship with fellow patients; and Being the main person in the conversation with a peer. Sharing stories about having similar symptoms and undergoing similar journeys predominated, and the key feature of the contact between patients was the commonality of their stories. Critical interpretation and conclusion Telling one's story to a former patient, and thereby creating a joint, common story, is the essence of this study. The support received in this process can be empowering because knowledge of the illness experience is shared and increased. This can help create new coping strategies. The contact with a former patient offered a way to confirm one's thoughts and to find a way out of the illness perspective, by seeing how the former patient had recovered. Relevance to clinical practice The nursing field faces challenges in the relational aspect of caring because of ever greater efficient and shortened hospital stays; therefore, the peer support concept is becoming increasingly relevant. Patient peers offer each other their own perspectives, and it is important to raise awareness of the value of this and incorporate it into patient stays in hospital.

Suggested Citation

  • Britt Borregaard & Mette Spliid Ludvigsen, 2018. "Exchanging narratives—A qualitative study of peer support among surgical lung cancer patients," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 27(1-2), pages 328-336, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:jocnur:v:27:y:2018:i:1-2:p:328-336
    DOI: 10.1111/jocn.13903
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.13903
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1111/jocn.13903?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Schwartz, Carolyn E. & Sendor, Rabbi Meir, 1999. "Helping others helps oneself: response shift effects in peer support," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 48(11), pages 1563-1575, June.
    2. Ussher, Jane & Kirsten, Laura & Butow, Phyllis & Sandoval, Mirjana, 2006. "What do cancer support groups provide which other supportive relationships do not? The experience of peer support groups for people with cancer," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 62(10), pages 2565-2576, May.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Pia Elbrønd & Ida E. Højskov & Malene Missel & Britt Borregaard, 2020. "Food and heart—the nutritional jungle: Patients’ experiences of dietary habits and nutritional counselling after coronary artery bypass grafting," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 29(1-2), pages 85-93, January.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Xinguang Chen & Peigang Wang & Rhiana Wegner & Jie Gong & Xiaoyi Fang & Linda Kaljee, 2015. "Measuring Social Capital Investment: Scale Development and Examination of Links to Social Capital and Perceived Stress," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 120(3), pages 669-687, February.
    2. Gale, Nicola K. & Kenyon, Sara & MacArthur, Christine & Jolly, Kate & Hope, Lucy, 2018. "Synthetic social support: Theorizing lay health worker interventions," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 196(C), pages 96-105.
    3. Carolyn Schwartz & Penelope Keyl & John Marcum & Rita Bode, 2009. "Helping Others Shows Differential Benefits on Health and Well-being for Male and Female Teens," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 10(4), pages 431-448, August.
    4. John F. Helliwell, 2014. "Understanding and improving the social context of well-being," Chapters, in: Timo J. Hämäläinen & Juliet Michaelson (ed.), Well-Being and Beyond, chapter 5, pages 125-143, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    5. Sue Kim & Jeehee Han & Min Young Lee & Min Kyeong Jang, 2020. "The experience of cancer‐related fatigue, exercise and exercise adherence among women breast cancer survivors: Insights from focus group interviews," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 29(5-6), pages 758-769, March.
    6. John F. Helliwell & Lara B. Aknin & Hugh Shiplett & Haifang Huang & Shun Wang, 2017. "Social Capital and Prosocial Behaviour as Sources of Well-Being," NBER Working Papers 23761, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    7. Chandra, Yanto, 2017. "Social entrepreneurship as emancipatory work," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 32(6), pages 657-673.
    8. Annand, PJ & Platt, Lucy & Rathod, Sujit D. & Hosseini, Paniz & Guise, Andrew, 2022. "‘Progression capitals’: How homeless health peer advocacy impacts peer advocates," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 298(C).
    9. Yiyi Chen & Jiaqi Lu & Canghai Guan & Shiyang Zhang & Spencer De Li, 2022. "In the Shadow of the Casinos: The Relationship between Religion and Health in Macau," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-18, May.
    10. Barak-Nahum, Ayelet & Haim, Limor Ben & Ginzburg, Karni, 2016. "When life gives you lemons: The effectiveness of culinary group intervention among cancer patients," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 166(C), pages 1-8.
    11. Takeo Fujiwara, 2009. "Is Altruistic Behavior Associated with Major Depression Onset?," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 4(2), pages 1-6, February.
    12. John Helliwell & Haifang Huang & Shun Wang, 2014. "Social Capital and Well-Being in Times of Crisis," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 15(1), pages 145-162, February.
    13. José Giménez-Nadal & Raquel Ortega, 2015. "Time Dedicated to Family by University Students: Differences by Academic Area in a Case Study," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 36(1), pages 132-142, March.
    14. Shalini Bahl & George R. Milne & Kunal Swani, 2023. "An expanded mindful mindset: The role of different skills in stress reduction and life satisfaction," Journal of Consumer Affairs, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 57(2), pages 821-847, April.
    15. Maes, Kenneth C. & Hadley, Craig & Tesfaye, Fikru & Shifferaw, Selamawit, 2010. "Food insecurity and mental health: Surprising trends among community health volunteers in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia during the 2008 food crisis," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 70(9), pages 1450-1457, May.
    16. Carol Brownson & Michele Heisler, 2009. "The Role of Peer Support in Diabetes Care and Self-Management," The Patient: Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Springer;International Academy of Health Preference Research, vol. 2(1), pages 5-17, March.
    17. John F. Helliwell, 2011. "How Can Subjective Well-being Be Improved?," New Directions for Intelligent Government in Canada: Papers in Honour of Ian Stewart, in: Fred Gorbet & Andrew Sharpe (ed.),New Directions for Intelligent Government in Canada: Papers in Honour of Ian Stewart, pages 283-304, Centre for the Study of Living Standards.
    18. Annette Felgenhauer & Katharina Kaufmann & Julia Klier & Mathias Klier, 2021. "In the same boat: social support in online peer groups for career counseling," Electronic Markets, Springer;IIM University of St. Gallen, vol. 31(1), pages 197-213, March.
    19. Vanessa C. Delisle & Stephanie T. Gumuchian & Danielle B. Rice & Alexander W. Levis & Lorie A. Kloda & Annett Körner & Brett D. Thombs, 2017. "Perceived Benefits and Factors that Influence the Ability to Establish and Maintain Patient Support Groups in Rare Diseases: A Scoping Review," The Patient: Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Springer;International Academy of Health Preference Research, vol. 10(3), pages 283-293, June.
    20. Nahum-Shani, Inbal & Bamberger, Peter A., 2011. "Explaining the variable effects of social support on work-based stressor-strain relations: The role of perceived pattern of support exchange," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 114(1), pages 49-63, January.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:wly:jocnur:v:27:y:2018:i:1-2:p:328-336. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Wiley Content Delivery (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://doi.org/10.1111/(ISSN)1365-2702 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.