Purpose
The purpose of this study was to explore and describe the process of illness adaptation of patients with Atrial Fibrillation (AF).
Methods
Data were collected from December 2017 to July 2018 through individual in-depth interviews with thirteen patients with AF. Verbatim transcripts were analyzed using the grounded theory methodology developed by Corbin and Strauss.
Results
The core category about the illness adaptation process of patients with AF was identified as “living a life managing the silent insurrection of the heart.” The process of illness adaptation of patients with AF consisted of four phases: “withdrawal”, “transition”, “practice”, and “adeptness”.
Conclusion
An in-depth understanding of the illness adaptation process of patients with AF will guide nurses in proactively developing and implementing effective nursing interventions to better support patients with AF in Korea.

PURPOSE
The purpose of the study was to explore and describe the experience of pursuing complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in breast cancer patients.
METHODS
Ten women with breast cancer participated in the study. Data were collected through individual in-depth unstructured and individualized interviews with each participant from February to July, 2015. Theoretical sampling was used upto the point of theoretical saturation. Data were analyzed using Corbin & Strauss's grounded theory methodology.
RESULTS
Through open coding, 22 sub-categories, and 13 categories were identified. Analysis revealed that the core category was 'endless management of mind and body for healing', which consisted of four phases; exploring, applying, grasping, and integrating. Through this process, the participants utilized various action/interactional strategies such as 'dealing with information', 'trying out blindly', 'enduring volitionally', 'experiencing effects on mind and body,' and 'grasping one's own way.' The consequences of these strategies were integrating the habit of health remedy into one's life, becoming a main agent for change, and tolerating one's weak body.
CONCLUSION
In-depth understanding of the CAM pursuing experiences of patients with breast cancer would guide clinical nurses and policy makers to develop effective interventions and policies for better supporting them with regard to the usage of CAM.

Citations

• Development and psychometric evaluation of the adjuvant endocrine therapy beliefs scale for breast cancer survivors
  Sung Hae Kim, JuHee Lee
  Archives of Women's Mental Health.2024; 27(6): 961.     CrossRef
• Research Trends of Non-Pharmacological Interventions for Sleep-Wake Disturbances in Cancer Patients
  Moon Ju Oh, Hee Sun Kim
  Asian Oncology Nursing.2022; 22(3): 163.     CrossRef
• Successful Outcome of Breast Cancer Patient Refusing Conventional Treatments: A Case Report
  Sanghun Lee, Kicheul Sohn, Songha Chon
  Journal of Korean Medicine.2018; 39(4): 177.     CrossRef

PURPOSE
The study was to identify the level of Spiritual Health and Fatigue in women with breast cancer according to three treatment phases (post op phase, adjuvant phase, follow up phase).
METHODS
The research method was a cross-sectional descriptive study. Data were collected from 161 women patients with a diagnosis of breast cancer. Both in-patient and out-patient units from two general hospitals were the source of subjects. The subjects completed two standardized instruments: the "Spiritual Health Scale" developed by Highfield and the "Fatigue Scale" developed and revised by Piper. The data were analyzed using frequency, percentage, chi2, ANOVA, Scheffe test, Pearson's correlation coefficients, and Multiple regression.
RESULTS
The subscale scores of Self-Esteem of spiritual health and fatigue in patients with breast cancer differed among the three treatment phases (F=3.14, p=.046; F=3.31, p=.039). Significant correlations were found between spiritual health and fatigue. The variables which explained 29% of the variance in fatigue in breast cancer patients were education, religious belief, economic status, and spiritual health.
CONCLUSION
The study results demonstrated that spiritual health significantly explain fatigue. It is needed to develop nursing interventions to improve the spiritual health of breast cancer patients to manage fatigue according to treatment phases.