Research Article
Defining Contentment in Quality of Life in the Context of Breast Cancer Experience: A Meta-Synthesis
Octavio Muniz da Costa Vargens1,* and Carina M. Berterö21Faculty of Nursing, Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
2Department of Medical and Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Division of Nursing Science, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- *Corresponding Author:
- Octavio Muniz da Costa Vargens
RN, Midwife, PhD. Associate Professor
Faculty of Nursing
Rio de Janeiro State University
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Tel: 55-021-28688236
E-mail: omcvargens@uol.com.br
Received date: July 26, 2014 Accepted date: November 28, 2015 Published date: November 30, 2015
Citation: Vargens OMC, Berterö CM (2015) Defining Contentment in Quality of Life in the Context of Breast Cancer Experience: A Meta-Synthesis. J Palliat Care Med 5:239. doi:10.4172/2165-7386.1000239
Copyright: © 2015 da Costa Vargens OM, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Abstract
Purpose: There has been a great deal of qualitative research conducted that has examined the impact of breast cancer on the concept of Quality of Life (QoL); however, there has been little effort to analyse the psycho-social components of QoL findings from a meta-perspective. Method: Computer searches in electronic databases, search date from 2000 onwards; Publications focusing on women with breast cancer; using qualitative research/studies or combining qualitative and quantitative research, including a clear presentation of qualitative findings; and focused on women’s perspectives and experiences of QoL and affected life situation due to breast cancer. Thirty articles were selected for appraisal and 12 qualitative studies were interpreted and analysed. Results: The fusions identified from this meta-synthesis reveal three aspects of QoL affected by the diagnosis of breast cancer and its treatment: contentment, comfort, and contentedness. The results, understanding what QoL is about from the women’s perspectives may guide nurses and health care professionals when caring for women with breast cancer. Conclusion: The breast cancer experience has powerful impacts on women’s lives, and affects their QoL. This QoL is identified as contentment, comfort and contentedness, which are closely related but diverse. These results of the present study highlight the importance of providing support for women who have breast cancer in order to help them find the best strategies to overcome the impact of the disease and improve their QoL.
