Purpose: The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the experiences of post-traumatic growth in breast cancer survivors by applying grounded theory methods. Methods: Participants were seven breast cancer survivors who had been diagnosed with stage I or higher breast cancer, had completed acute treatment, and were members of an internet self-help group for breast cancer survivors. Data were collected through individual in-depth interviews from July 11, 2022 to May 4, 2023. The interview contents were transcribed and analyzed using Corbin and Strauss’s grounded theory method. A total of 18 sub-categories and 9 categories were identified through the open coding process. Results: As a result of axial coding based on the paradigm model, the central phenomenon of post-traumatic growth experiences of breast cancer survivors was revealed as ‘Finding true life after the pain of death’. The core category was identified as ‘Promise a life without regrets’, which consisted of a four-step process: reflection period, recovery period, transition period, achievement period. Breast cancer survivors experienced restoration of their inner selves, strengthening of positive thinking through the process of resetting their life values and goals, and pursuit a stable and satisfying life. Conclusion: To help breast cancer survivors grow after trauma, the importance of accepting changes in their bodies and maintaining a positive perspective was highlighted.

Since the increased focus on the essential role of recovering cognitive function after stroke, cognitive rehabilitation of stroke survivors has been important. This study aimed to provide basic data on the successful cognitive rehabilitation of stroke survivors through an literature review of virtual reality cognitive rehabilitation. Methods: The literature review method of Whittemore and Knaf was used. Data was searched on papers published before April 2023, and RISS, NDSL, and KISS were used for the search. Four studies were selected for analysis. Results: The cognitive function of the experimental group applied with the virtual reality cognitive rehabilitation was significantly improved. In the three studies, cognitive function was significantly improved compared to the control group. Conclusion: Findings from the review suggest the necessity of a virtual reality cognitive rehabilitation for older stroke survivors to verify its effectiveness.

목적 : 유방암 환자의 자기효능감과 사회적 지지 및 지역사회참여 정도를 알아보고 작업치료중재 프로그램 개발의 기초선을 제공하고자 한다. 연구방법 : 본 연구는 H군에 위치한 병원에 외래로 방문하는 유방암 환자 40명을 대상으로 자가보고형 설문지를 배부하였고, 유방암 환자의 자가관리에 대한 자기효능감(Self-Efficacy Scale for Self-Management of Breast Cancer; SESSM-B), 사회적 지지(Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support; MSPSS) 그리고 한국판 지역사회 참여 지표(Korean-Community Participation Indicator; K-CPI)를 측정하였다. 결과 : 자기효능감은 3.70±.38점, 사회적 지지는 3.49±.66점이었다. 지역사회 참여 정도는 주관적 특성 을 반영한 참여권 문항은 3.27±.65점이었다. 객관적 특성을 반영한 20개 활동들에 대하여 참여 빈도와 중요성을 알아본 결과 가장 중요하게 생각하는 활동은 가족과 시간을 보내기, 요리나 집안일을 하기 그 리고 취미나 여가활동에 참여하는 것이었다. 하지만 낮은 참여 빈도를 보였다. 각 변수간의 상관성을 알아본 결과 사회적 지지는 자기효능감(p<.01)와 지역사회 참여에서 양의 상관관계를 나타냈다(p<.001). 결론 : 유방암 환자의 사회적 역할, 관계 등을 고려한 작업치료 중재 프로그램의 개발과 추가적인 연구가 필요하다.

This paper examines Doris Lessing’s insight into sufi equilibrium in The Memoirs of a Survivor. Lessing uses sufi ideas to enhance the perception of human beings in support of her belief in the possibility of individual and world amelioration. These ideas are represented by a narrator in The Memoir of a Survivor, who comes and goes through an opening wall. The narrator sees other lives behind the wall, that consists of personal and impersonal scenes. The narrator and Emily, a character who just pops out from a room behind the wall, first experience crisis, anxiety and fear in an apocalyptic world, and then move into another order of world following a feminine deity. In like manner, Lessing expects that humans will participate in conscious evolution through imagining and apprehending a deity.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to understand and describe the experiences of stomach cancer patients in South Korea. Methods: Secondary analysis of qualitative data was designed. The data were analyzed via the Phenomenological Method, using the data of 12 stomach cancer patients, from the original data collected by narrative interviews in 2013. Results: Seven theme clusters emerged from the analysis. Beginning with: ‘Facing Life Threats from Cancer,’ this describes how the participants experience between cancer diagnosis and treatments. ‘Crossing the Boundary between Life and Death’ deals with desperate struggle to overcome medical treatments, such as gastrectomy and chemotherapy, while ‘Adjusting to Weakened Body’ illustrates the continuous daily struggle to follow dietary treatments after operation. ‘Dilemmas in Interpersonal Relationships’ illustrates the sensitivity of relationships from the cancer stigma, with predicaments rising in collective dining situations. ‘Encountering: Hidden Me, Inside Me’ describes changes in values of life and a matured self. ‘Supporters for Hope’ illustrates driving forces to keep hope alive in everyday lives. Lastly, ‘Happiness of Everyday Life Rescued from Misery’ describes how life turned into blessings from cancer after all. Conclusion: The results of this study would help oncology professionals to develop patient-centered cancer survivorship interventions, by understanding and gaining insights about the lived experience of stomach cancer patients.

This study investigated multidimensional body image, self-esteem, clothing benefits sought, and Body Image After Breast Cancer (BIABC) within surgical subgroups among breast cancer survivors. The study applied the questionnaire survey method and the main research was conducted through an online survey. The respondents included 207 breast cancer survivors between the ages of 30 and 59, each of whom received the Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire (MBSRQ). Self-esteem, clothing benefits sought, examination, and demographic variables were measured using a 5-point Likert scale. The main results of this study are outlined below. For clothing benefit sought, six factors were formulated—pursuit of self-expression/social approval, function/health, compensation, femininity, fashion, and camouflage—and BIABC was defined by the four factors of body stigma/vulnerability, transparency, limitation and cancer concern. While MBSRQ and self-esteem did not show a statistically significant difference between groups differentiated by the surgical methods experienced, those who underwent mastectomies scored slightly lower than members of the other groups. Moreover, the reconstruction after mastectomy group showed the highest mean on self-expression/social approval, compensation, femininity and entire clothing benefits sought, followed by the lumpectomy group and mastectomy group. The lumpectomy group was found to have more positive BIABC than the mastectomy group. In particular, the mastectomy group showed a lower body stigma/vulnerability mean than the other groups. This study is meaningful in that it improves our understanding of the body image of breast cancer survivors and provides basic knowledge for developing products and marketing strategies for breast cancer survivors as consumers.

Purpose: The purpose of the present study was to examine the physical and psychological benefits afforded by a 6-week yoga program for breast cancer survivors. Methods: Eligible participants (per-screened) were to the intervention group 17. All participants completed pre- and post-testing assessments immediately before and after the Mindfulness yoga program. Statistical analyses were paired samples t-test by SPSS 19.0. Results: The Mindfulness yoga program participants(female) included primarily breast cancer survivors, on average 46.5 months post-diagnosis. Significant differences between pre and post at post-intervention were seen only in psychosocial(i.e. QOL; Role function, Appetite loss, Constipation and PSQI) Finally, there were also significant improvements in the program participants from pre- to post-intervention on physical variables(Weight, BMI). Conclusion: The mindfulness yoga program has a positive effect on Quality of life in Breast cancer survivors. Future research might attempt to include control group and a longer program duration.