The experiences of young women living post-stroke in Jordan: a descriptive phenomenological study.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of stroke in younger adults is rising, particularly among women living with stroke who face multiple physical, psychological, and social challenges that negatively affect their quality of life. Consequently, women's roles in life would be negatively affected at home, work, and in society. This study aimed to explore the lived experience of women suffering from a stroke in Jordan. METHODOLOGY: This paper uses semi-structured interviews to present a descriptive phenomenological study of eight young women suffering from a stroke. The Colaizzi (1978) method was used to analyze interview transcripts. MAIN RESULTS: Three main emerging themes that describe the lived experiences of women with a stroke: 1) Experiencing stroke as a woman; 2) Stroke and the intimate relationship with the spouse; 3) Challenges of women's journey while receiving health care. CONCLUSION: After their stroke, Jordanian women have experienced profound, interrelated, and multifaceted difficulties in all aspects of their life and relationships inside and outside the family. Whilst healthcare providers recognize these stressful symptoms; however, there is a lack of attention and care to meet these needs.

Involvement of Jordanian Patients and Their Families in Decision Making Near End of Life, Challenges and Recommendations.

This study aims to explore the challenges in involving patients and their families in decision making near end of life and to provide recommendations to overcome these challenges. A qualitative descriptive phenomenological approach was used with a purposive sample of 8 patients, 7 family caregivers, 7 nurses, and 6 physicians from 2 institutions that provide palliative and end-of-life care services in Jordan. Data were collected using interviews with patients and family caregivers and focus group discussions with nurses and physicians. Colaizzi's method was used to analyze the data. The thematic analysis revealed 5 themes representing the participants' experiences of challenges with decision making near end of life. The identified challenges are (1) struggle with lack of information; (2) improper communication; (3) patient's or family's decision: the cultural taboo; (4) health care providers prefer staying in their comfort zone; and (5) the paradox of surviving and letting go. In addition, the participants endorsed several recommendations to raise public awareness of palliative and end-of-life care, amplify the patients' voice, and raise the bar of communication sensitivity. Decision making near the end of life is a challenge. However, the current study highlighted several areas for improvement that can improve the process and optimize patients' and their families' involvement.