PURPOSE
Lung cancer patients are often stigmatized since lung cancer is closely associated with smoking, which is a self-administered life style. The stigma of lung cancer has been examined in some qualitative studies; however, their findings were diverse and not yet synthesized. Therefore, this meta-synthesis study aimed to explore how lung cancer patients experience stigma.
METHODS
A meta-synthesis method, as suggested by Sandelowski and Barroso in 2007, was applied by aggregating the findings after an evaluation according to consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ).
RESULTS
By synthesizing the findings of the selected seven papers, a synthesized theme was emerged as "experiencing external and internal distances, which mandates authentic and consistent supports." The four sub-themes included 'experiencing some distance from the surrounded world,' 'experiencing self-made distance between the disease and oneself,' 'the disease experience causes social isolation and loneliness,' and 'there is lack of supportive care for myself.' CONCLUSION: Health care providers should be more attentive to supporting lung cancer patients by providing more effective advocacy programs that improve patients' quality of life.

Citations

• Stigma in Early-Stage Lung Cancer
  Sarah Bédard, Hannah Sasewich, Jessica Culling, Simon R Turner, Janelle Pellizzari, Scott Johnson, Eric L R Bédard
  Annals of Behavioral Medicine.2022; 56(12): 1272.     CrossRef
• Social isolation in adults with cancer: An evolutionary concept analysis
  Yanjing Liang, Guihua Hao, Mei Wu, Lili Hou
  Frontiers in Psychology.2022;[Epub]     CrossRef