Between anxiety and hope: the experiences of women with vulval intraepithelial neoplasia during their illness trajectory - a qualitative approach

Gafner, Dinah; Eicher, Manuela; Spirig, Rebecca; Senn, Beate (2013). Between anxiety and hope: the experiences of women with vulval intraepithelial neoplasia during their illness trajectory - a qualitative approach. Pflege - die wissenschaftliche Zeitschrift für Pflegeberufe, 26(2), pp. 85-95. H. Huber 10.1024/1012-5302/a000273

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The vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN) is a rare chronic skin condition that may progress to an invasive carcinoma of the vulva. Major issues affecting women's health were occurring symptoms, negative influences on sexuality, uncertainty concerning the illness progression and changes in the body image. Despite this, there is little known about the lived experiences of the illness trajectory. Therefore, the aim of this study was to describe the experiences of women with VIN during the illness trajectory. In a secondary data analysis of the foregoing qualitative study we analysed eight narrative interviews with women with VIN by using thematic analysis in combination with critical hermeneutics. Central for these women during their course of illness was a sense of "Hope and Fear". This constitutive pattern reflects the fear of recurrence but also the trust in healing. The eight narratives showed women's experiences during their course of illness occurred in five phases: "there is something unknown"; "one knows, what IT is"; "IT is treated and should heal"; "IT has effects on daily life"; "meanwhile it works". Women's experiences were particularly influenced by the feeling of "embarrassment" and by "dealing with professionals". Current care seems to lack adequate support for women with VIN to manage these phases. We suggest, based on our study and the international literature, that new models of counselling and providing information need to be developed and evaluated.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Original Article)

Division/Institute:

04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of Gynaecology, Paediatrics and Endocrinology (DFKE) > Clinic of Gynaecology

UniBE Contributor:

Eicher, Manuela, Senn, Beate

Subjects:

600 Technology > 610 Medicine & health

ISSN:

1012-5302

Publisher:

H. Huber

Language:

German

Submitter:

Nathalie Ursula Becher

Date Deposited:

25 Jun 2014 15:38

Last Modified:

05 Dec 2022 14:35

Publisher DOI:

10.1024/1012-5302/a000273

PubMed ID:

23535473

BORIS DOI:

10.7892/boris.54052

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/54052

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