Cancer treatment experiences among survivors of childhood sexual abuse: A qualitative investigation of triggers and reactions to cumulative trauma.
Palliat Support Care
; 16(6): 767-776, 2018 12.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-28809134
ABSTRACT
ABSTRACTObjective:
Some 25% of women and 8% of men in the United States have experienced childhood sexual abuse (CSA) before the age of 18. For these individuals, healthcare visits and interactions can be retraumatizing due to perceived similarities to past abuse (e.g., pain, undressing, lack of control). However, no prior studies have provided formal qualitative analyses regarding CSA survivors' reactions to cancer treatment. Therefore, our study's objective was to identify key themes pertaining to CSA survivors' cancer treatment experiences.METHOD:
Male and female members of the Amazon Mechanical Turk (N = 159, mean age = 44.27 years, SD = 10.02) participated in an anonymous online survey study. The inclusion criteria included reporting history of CSA; a diagnosis of colorectal, gynecological, breast, or skin cancer; and experience of triggers and/or difficulties during cancer treatment. Participants' responses to open-ended questions were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis.RESULTS:
We identified two primary themes describing CSA survivors' experiences Theme 1 treatment-related triggers (key subthemes procedure-related, provider-related, and emotional triggers); and Theme 2 questioning the meaning of cumulative trauma (e.g., "Why me again?"). SIGNIFICANCE OFRESULTS:
For CSA survivors, cancer and its treatment can trigger thoughts and emotions associated with the original abuse as well as negative evaluations of themselves, the world, and their future. Our findings are consistent with past research on CSA survivors' experiences in non-cancer healthcare settings and add to the literature by highlighting their struggles during cancer treatment. The present results can inform further research on trauma survivors' reactions to cancer treatment and give cancer care providers the context they need to understand and sensitively serve a substantial yet often overlooked patient group.Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Calidad de la Atención de Salud
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Sobrevivientes
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Experiencias Adversas de la Infancia
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Neoplasias
Tipo de estudio:
Prognostic_studies
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Qualitative_research
Límite:
Adult
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Female
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Humans
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Male
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Middle aged
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Palliat Support Care
Asunto de la revista:
TERAPEUTICA
Año:
2018
Tipo del documento:
Article