Care strategies for people with cancer in light of Uncertainty in Illness Theory.
Júlia Mesko Silveira, Lílian Moura de Lima Spagnolo, Rosiane Filipin Rangel and 5 others
PMID 42561255WHAT IT FOUND
People with cancer described coping with uncertainty by drawing, singing, therapy, phones, routines, appearance, family time, nature, and faith.
These are patient strategies, not proven outcomes.
Key findings
01People with cancer described using art, writing or drawing, singing, psychological therapy, mobile devices, daily routines, appearance, family leisure, nature, and complementary therapies to cope with uncertainty.
02Participants said healthcare professionals, family, friends, neighbors, and religion or faith helped them face uncertainty, including Umbanda.
03The 14 participants were aged 21 to 72 years, 12 were female, and 6 had breast cancer.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study was done at one hospital in southern Brazil, so the findings may not apply to other services or countries. It included 14 participants, all aged 18 or older, and used purposive sampling, so it cannot show how common these strategies are. It is a qualitative interview study, so it reports experiences and themes, not effects of any strategy. The authors analysed data using Uncertainty in Illness Theory and presented only the coping strategies category, so other parts of the analysis are not available here. Most participants were female, and breast cancer was the most common diagnosis, so the results may not fit men or other cancers. Participants were nominated by nursing staff and approached in a treatment setting, which may affect who agreed to be interviewed.
Declared interests
Funded by Coordination of Superior Level Staff Improvement.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that these coping strategies reduce uncertainty or improve cancer outcomes. The study only describes what 14 participants said they used; it did not compare strategies or measure effect.