Experiences of Gynecological Cancer through Perspectives of Existential Philosophy: A Qualitative Meta-Synthesis Study

Abstract

The aim of this study was to re-interpret qualitative studies that examined life experiences of women with gynecological cancer through the perspective of "existentialist philosophy". In this meta-synthesis study, a theoretical sampling method was used. Thirty-five studies that were accessible in full text, published in Turkish and English, were included in the meta-synthesis. The Joanna Briggs Institute's 2011 Qualitative Assessment and Review Instrument and Weed's meta-interpretation approach was used, respectively, to evaluate and interpret data. In this study, data pertaining to women's experiences with cancer were re-interpreted based on five fundamental concepts of existentialist philosophy: (1)Angst: In cancer's shadow, (2)Despair: I'm sorry for my losses!, (3)Authenticity: Towards a new existence, (4)The Absurd: Lives confined to the short distance between joy of life and existential crisis, (5)The "Other" and the "Look": Cancer: It's so hard to say! In this meta-synthesis study, it was found that women with gynecological cancer continuously bear the heavy burden of uncertainty and the threat of existential angst, and require expert, knowledgeable, and authentic care that focuses on their existence.

Keywords

• Existentialism, genital neoplasms, qualitative research, life events

Varoluşçu Felsefe Bakış Açısına Göre Jinekolojik Kanser Yaşantıları: Bir Niteliksel Meta-Sentez Çalışması

Öz

Bu çalışmanın amacı, jinekolojik kanseri olan kadınların yaşam deneyimlerini inceleyen niteliksel çalışmaları, "varoluşçu felsefenin" bakış açısıyla yeniden incelemektir. Bu meta-sentez çalışmasında, amaca yönelik örneklem yöntemi kullanılmıştır. Akdeniz Üniversitesi veri tabanından, "gynecological cancer", "qualitative study", "nursing", "care", "patients' perspectives" ve "jinekolojik kanser", "niteliksel araştırma", "hemşirelik", "bakım", "hasta beklentileri" anahtar kelimeleriyle son 10 yıllık literatür sistematik olarak incelenmiştir. Tam metinlerine ulaşılabilen, Türkçe ve İngilizce 35 araştırma çalışmaya dahil edilmiştir. Verilerin değerlendirilme sürecinde Joanna Briggs Enstitünün Niteliksel Değerlendirme Rehberi'nin 2011 versiyonu kullanılmıştır. Verilerin yorumlamasında Weed'in ileri-yorumlama (meta-interpretation) yöntemi kullanılmıştır. Çalışmada kadınların kanser yaşantılarına ilişkin veriler varoluşçu felsefenin beş temel kavramı ile yeniden yorumlanmıştır: (1) Anksiyete; Kanserin gölgesinde, (2) Acı çekme; Üzgünüm, kaybettiklerim için!, (3) Otantiklik; Yeni bir varoluşa doğru, (4) Absürt; Yaşam sevinci ve varlık bunaltısı arasındaki kısa mesafede yaşamlar, ve (5)"Öteki" ve "Bakış"; Kanser: söylemek o kadar zor ki!. Bu meta-sentez çalışmasında, kadınların varoluşun tehdidi ve belirsizliğin ağır yükünü sürekli taşıdıkları ve varoluşlarına odaklanan, ilgili, uzmanca, bilgili ve otantik bir bakıma gereksinim duydukları saptanmıştır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Varoluşçuluk, genital tümörler, niteliksel araştırma, yaşam olayları

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