• KSAN
  • Contact us
  • E-Submission

Korean J Adult Nurs : Korean Journal of Adult Nursing

OPEN ACCESS
mobile search button mobile menu button
Search
Advanced Search
ABOUT
BROWSE ARTICLES
EDITORIAL POLICY
FOR CONTRIBUTORS

Articles

Page Path

Original Article

The Experience of Self-help Group Activities among Women with Breast Cancer in Korea

Myungsun Yi1, Young Mi Ryu2, Eunkyung Hwang3
Korean Journal of Adult Nursing 2014;26(4):466-478.
Published online: August 31, 2014

1College of Nursing Research Institute of Nursing Science, Seoul National University, Seoul

2College of Nursing, Seoul National University, Seoul

3Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea

Corresponding author: Ryu, Young Mi College of Nursing, Seoul National University, 103 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul 110-799, Korea. Tel: +82-2-740-8460, Fax: +82-2-765-4103, E-mail: youngmiryu@gmail.com
• Received: May 1, 2014   • Accepted: August 5, 2014

Copyright © 2017 Korean Society of Adult Nursing

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

  • 15 Views
  • 2 Download
  • 11 Crossref
prev next

Full Article

Download PDF Download PDF
  • Purpose
    The purposeof the study wasto exploreanddescribe theexperienceof breast cancer self-help group activities in Korea.
  • Methods
    The datawere collected via individual in-depthinterviewswith8 women with breast cancer, whoparticipated in self-help groups during2012~2013. All interviews wereaudio-taped andtranscribed, and they were analyzed using a phenomenological method.
  • Results
    Six theme clusters were identified. “Breakthroughtowardsurvival” describeshow theparticipantsidentifiedself-helpgroupsandgot involvedin the activities. “Genuine comfort obtained by ‘misery loves company’ deals with the emotional relief and catharsis. “Newlifefullyrecharged” demonstratesthechangedbeliefsystemandthejoyfor lifeandliving. “Rebirthinfamily” deals withhow familydynamicshasbeen changed. “Societal changeby raisingcollectiveconsciousness” illus-tratesmanyactivitiestoimprovetheir rightsandadvocateemployment issues. “Obstaclestothe groupharmony” illustrates the major difficulties including interpersonal conflicts the participants encountered during their participation.
  • Conclusion
    Theresultsof thestudy showedthat participatingin self-help groupswasmostlybenefi-cial for women with breast cancer. Therefore, oncology professionals need to encourage them to participate in self-help groups and also need to provide professional support to self-help groups for their harmonious interpersonal relationships.
  • Key Words: Breast neoplasms; Self-help groups; Psychological stress; Qualitative research
Table 1.
Theme Clusters and Themes of the Experience of Self-help Group Activities among Women with Breast Cancer
Theme cluster Themes
Breakthrough toward survival ․ Desire to escape from suffering
․ Ambivalence about self-help groups
․ Participation through diverse routes
Genuine comfort gained through "misery loves company" ․ Negative emotions relieved
․ Catharsis obtained by various group activities
․ Safe future displayed by role models
․ Becoming a dignified member of society
New life fully recharged ․ Transformation of value system of life
․ Sing and joy for life and living
Rebirth in family ․ Warm support from family members
․ Self-centered life in family vs. altruistic life in self-help groups
Social change by raising collective consciousness ․ Advocating rights and interests of women with breast cancer
․ Advocating employment issues of women with breast cancer
Obstacles to the group harmony ․ Conflict in interpersonal relations
․ Burnout with heavy workload
․ Sorrow of parting
  • Adamsen L., Rasnussen J. M.. 2001;Sociological perspectives on self-help groups: Reflections on conceptualization and social processes. Journal of Advanced Nursing. 35(6):909–-917. http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2648.2001.01928.x.
  • Cameron L. D., Booth R. J., Schlatter M., Ziginskas D., Harman J. E., Benson S. R.. 2005;Cognitive and affective determinants of decisions to attend a group psychosocial support program for women with breast cancer. Psychosomatic Medicine. 67(4):584–-589. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/01.psy.0000170834.54970.f5.
  • Colaizzi P.. 1978. Psychosocial research as the phenomenologist views it. p. 48–-71. In:.In: Valle RS, King M, editors. editors..Existential-phenomenological alternatives for psychology. New York, NY: Oxford University Press Inc.
  • Coreil J., Wilke J., Pinto I.. 2004;Cultural models of illness and recovery in breast cancer support groups. Qualitative Health Research. 14(7):905–-923. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1049732304266656.
  • Damen S., Mortelmans D., VanHove E.. 2000;Self-helpgroups in Belgium: Their place in the care network. Sociology of Health & Illness. 22(3):331–-348. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1467-9566.00207.
  • Dunn J., Steginga S. K., Rosoman N., Millichap D.. 2003;A review of peer support in the context of cancer. Journal of Psychosocial Oncology. 21(2):55–-67. http://dx.doi.org/10.1300/J077v21n02_04.
  • Gray R., Fitch M., Davis C., Phillips C.. 1997;A qualitative study of breast cancer self-help groups. Psycho-Oncology. 6(4):279–-289.
  • Jun E.. 2005;Factors influencing sexual satisfaction in patients withbreast cancer participating in asupport groupand non support group. Korean Journal of Women's Health Nursing. 11(1):67–-76.
  • Kim M. S., Chyon M. S.. 2003;Effects of the self-help group program for quality of life in women with breast cancer. Asian Oncology Nursing. 3(1):45–-55.
  • Kissane D. W., Bloch S., Smith G. C., Miach P., Clarke D.M., Ikin J., et al. 2003;Cognitive-existential group psychotherapy for women with primary breast cancer: A randomized controlled trial. Psycho-Oncology. 12(6):532–-546.
  • Korean Breast Cancer Society. 2013;Breast cancer facts and figures Retrieved March 4, 2014, from Korean Breast Cancer Society Web site:.http://www.kbcs.or.kr/journal/file/2013_Breast_Cancer_Facts_and_Figures_updated.pdf.
  • Lee Y.. 2007;Psychosocial experience in post-mastectomy women. Korean Journal of Social Welfare. 59(3):99–-124.
  • Lim I. S.. 2006;Breast cancer, damage body and sense of feminity crisis. Korean Association of Women's Studies. 22(4):5–-46.
  • Mathews H. F.. 2000;Negotiating cultural consensus in a breast cancer self-help group. Medical Anthropology Quarterly. 14(3):394–-413. http://dx.doi.org/10.1525/maq.2000.14.3.394.
  • Michalec B.. 2005;Exploring the multidimensional benefits of breast cancer support groups. Journal of Psychosocial Oncology. 23(2):159–-179. http://dx.doi.org/10.1300/J077v23n02_10.
  • Montazeri A., Jarvandi S., Haghighat S., Vahdani M., Sajadian A., Ebrahimi M., et al. 2001;Anxiety and depression in breast cancer patients before and after participation in a cancer support group. Patient Education and Counseling. 45(3):195–-198. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0738-3991(01)00121-5.
  • National Cancer InformationCenter. 2011;National cancerregi-stry andcancer statistics RetrievedMarch 4, 2014, fromNational Cancer Information Center Web site:.http://www.cancer.go.kr/mbs/cancer/subview.jsp?id=cancer_040101000000.
  • Oh J.. 2007;Predictors of participation in support groups among women with breast cancer. Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing. 37(5):635–-644.
  • Patton M. Q.. 1990. Qualitative evaluation and research methods. 2nd ed.. Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications Inc.
  • Sandelowski M.. 1986;The problem of rigor in qualitative research. Advances in Nursing Science. 8(3):27–-37. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/00012272-198604000-00005.
  • Spradley J. P.. 1979. The ethnographic interview. Orlando, FL: Holt, Rinehart and Winston Inc.
  • Sutton L. B., Erlen J.A.. 2006;Effectsof mutual dyad support onquality of life in womenwithbreast cancer. CancerNursing. 29(6):488–-498. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/00002820-200611000-00010.
  • Tamminga S. J., de Boer A. G. E. M., Verbeek J. H. A. M., Frings-Dresen M. H. W.. 2010;Return-to-work interventions integratedintocancer care: Asystematic review. Occupational and Environmental Medicine. 67(9):639–-648. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/oem.2009.050070.
  • Yi M., Park E. Y.. 2009;Illness experience of women with breast cancer in Korea: using feminist phenomenology. Korean Journal of Adult Nursing. 21(5):504–-518.
  • Yi M., Kim J.H., Park E.Y., Kim J.N., Yu E.S.. 2010;Focus group study on psychosocial distress of cancer patients. Journal of Korean Academy of Adult Nursing. 22(1):19–-30.
  • Ziegler L., Smith P.A., Fawcett J.. 2004;Breastcancer: Evaluation of the common journey breast cancer support group. Journal of Clinical Nursing. 13(4):467–-478. http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2702.2003.00893.x.

Figure & Data

References

    Citations

    Citations to this article as recorded by  
    • Health-related quality of life of premenopausal young breast cancer survivors undergoing endocrine therapy
      Kyungmi Lee, Hye Suk Jun
      European Journal of Oncology Nursing.2024; 68: 102496.     CrossRef
    • Experiences of peer support activities and the need for a metaverse-based program in young women with breast cancer: A qualitative study
      Jeonghee Ahn, Kyoung-eun Lee
      Asia-Pacific Journal of Oncology Nursing.2023; 10(7): 100253.     CrossRef
    • Experiences of Accessing Medical Services after Diagnosis in Breast Cancer Survivors
      Jae Woo Oh, Mi Ran Kim
      The Korean Journal of Rehabilitation Nursing.2022; 25(1): 22.     CrossRef
    • Operation Experiences of Women with Breast Cancer
      Hyeon-Young Kim, Sun Hwa Shin
      Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing.2020; 27(2): 129.     CrossRef
    • Relationships Among Self-Efficacy, Social Support, and Community Participation in Breast Cancer Survivors
      Hye-Mi Kim, Gyeong-A Park, Jin-Ju Park, Myung-Hwa Oh
      Journal of Korean Society of Occupational Therapy.2019; 27(4): 69.     CrossRef
    • Journey through the Fight against Ovarian Cancer: Finding the Existence Value with being Tied to the Bridle of Death
      Young-Suk Park, Jeong Sook Park
      Korean Journal of Adult Nursing.2018; 30(6): 656.     CrossRef
    • Effect of empowerment on the quality of life of the survivors of breast cancer: The moderating effect of self‐help group participation
      Sunhwa Shin, Hyojung Park
      Japan Journal of Nursing Science.2017; 14(4): 311.     CrossRef
    • Analysis of Nursing Needs of Home-dwelling Breast Cancer Patients Based on Counselling Contents
      Eun Ja Kim, Jin Sook Hyun, Jung Hwa Han, Nahyun Kim
      Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing.2016; 30(3): 420.     CrossRef
    • Exploring Existential Coping Resources: The Perspective of Koreans with Cancer
      Fereshteh Ahmadi, Jisung Park, Kyung Mee Kim, Nader Ahmadi
      Journal of Religion and Health.2016; 55(6): 2053.     CrossRef
    • Experiences of Self-management Support among Breast Cancer Survivors
      Seok-Mo Heo, Narae Heo
      Korean Journal of Adult Nursing.2016; 28(4): 470.     CrossRef
    • Development and Validation of the Empowerment Scale for Woman with Breast Cancer
      Sun Hwa Shin, Hyojung Park
      Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing.2015; 45(4): 613.     CrossRef

    Download Citation

    Download a citation file in RIS format that can be imported by all major citation management software, including EndNote, ProCite, RefWorks, and Reference Manager.

    Format:

    Include:

    The Experience of Self-help Group Activities among Women with Breast Cancer in Korea
    Korean J Adult Nurs. 2014;26(4):466-478.   Published online August 31, 2014
    DOI: https://doi.org/10.7475/kjan.2014.26.4.466
    Download Citation
    Download a citation file in RIS format that can be imported by all major citation management software, including EndNote, ProCite, RefWorks, and Reference Manager.
    Format:
    • RIS — For EndNote, ProCite, RefWorks, and most other reference management software
    • BibTeX — For JabRef, BibDesk, and other BibTeX-specific software
    Include:
    • Citation for the content below
    The Experience of Self-help Group Activities among Women with Breast Cancer in Korea
    Korean J Adult Nurs. 2014;26(4):466-478.   Published online August 31, 2014
    DOI: https://doi.org/10.7475/kjan.2014.26.4.466
    Close
    The Experience of Self-help Group Activities among Women with Breast Cancer in Korea
    The Experience of Self-help Group Activities among Women with Breast Cancer in Korea

    Theme Clusters and Themes of the Experience of Self-help Group Activities among Women with Breast Cancer

    Theme cluster Themes
    Breakthrough toward survival ․ Desire to escape from suffering
    ․ Ambivalence about self-help groups
    ․ Participation through diverse routes
    Genuine comfort gained through "misery loves company" ․ Negative emotions relieved
    ․ Catharsis obtained by various group activities
    ․ Safe future displayed by role models
    ․ Becoming a dignified member of society
    New life fully recharged ․ Transformation of value system of life
    ․ Sing and joy for life and living
    Rebirth in family ․ Warm support from family members
    ․ Self-centered life in family vs. altruistic life in self-help groups
    Social change by raising collective consciousness ․ Advocating rights and interests of women with breast cancer
    ․ Advocating employment issues of women with breast cancer
    Obstacles to the group harmony ․ Conflict in interpersonal relations
    ․ Burnout with heavy workload
    ․ Sorrow of parting
    Table 1. Theme Clusters and Themes of the Experience of Self-help Group Activities among Women with Breast Cancer

    Table 1.

    Korean J Adult Nurs : Korean Journal of Adult Nursing

    ABOUT

    BROWSE ARTICLES 

    EDITORIAL POLICY

    FOR CONTRIBUTORS  

    © Korean Society of Adult Nursing.
    TOP