Perspectives of Participation in Daily Life From Cancer Survivors: A Qualitative Analysis.
Allison J L'Hotta, Nirmala Shivakumar, Kathleen D Lyons and 3 others
PMID 36123981WHAT IT FOUND
Cancer survivors defined participation as doing valued activities, driven by control, social connection, context, and joy.
They did not emphasize societal barriers or community engagement, unlike other disability groups. Rehabilitation providers should assess these personal aspects to better understand survivors' priorities and distress when restricted.
Key findings
01Participants defined participation as doing valued activities, with four common aspects: control, social connection, engaging in various contexts, and cultivation of joy and purpose.
02Unlike previous research on other disabilities, survivors did not emphasize societal perceptions or community engagement, focusing instead on internal disease and treatment effects.
03Distress was common when participation was restricted, and survivors prioritized maintaining control and social connection despite adverse effects.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The sample was limited to English-speaking individuals without aphasia, excluding those with significant communication barriers. Environmental factors were not probed in the interview guide, so survivors' lack of discussion about them may reflect the study design rather than their true perspectives. Participants completed quantitative measures before interviews, which may have primed their conceptualization of participation. The sample size (40) was small and specific to one medical center, limiting generalizability to all cancer survivors.
Declared interests
The paper does not report any conflicts of interest or funding sources in the provided text.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that cancer survivors view their participation restrictions primarily through the lens of societal stigma or environmental barriers. This study found they focused on internal disease effects and personal control, unlike previous research on other disabilities. Applying frameworks emphasizing societal inclusion may misalign with survivors' actual priorities.