An exploration into the occupational identity of women following breast cancer and treatment: A qualitative study.
Courtney Hopkins, Angela Murphy, Rebecca Haythorne and 1 others
PMID 40337122WHAT IT FOUND
Women long after breast cancer treatment described fatigue, weakness and pain limiting work, dressing, cooking and social activities.
They described keeping a sense of who they were by pacing, resting, accepting help, and choosing familiar or adapted occupations.
Key findings
01Women said fatigue and other treatment side effects disrupted work, leisure and social participation.
02Women used support, pacing, rest and adapted activities to keep doing some valued occupations.
03Not being able to do valued tasks independently was distressing, while some women resisted being defined by cancer.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
Only six women volunteered, all White British and living in the UK, so the themes may not transfer to other backgrounds, healthcare systems or countries. Participants were recruited through social media and a charity advert, and they were not under occupational therapy care. Interviews were conducted virtually because of the pandemic, which may have affected rapport and conversation quality. Time since diagnosis varied from 2 to 20 years, and the study did not collect detailed cancer or treatment variables. The interview schedule was not piloted, and participants relied on recalling past experiences, which may have affected detail and accuracy.
Declared interests
The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest. The supplied text does not name a funding source.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that pacing, rest, help or adapted occupations have been shown to improve participation or identity. This is a qualitative description of women's experiences, not a tested intervention.