The lived experiences of Middle Eastern immigrant women during their cancer survivorship journey: a phenomenological study
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Date
2019
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University of New Brunswick
Abstract
The number of Middle Eastern immigrant women (MEIW) living in Canada has significantly increased. However, this group of women are under-represented in health research, and there is a gap in knowledge of their cancer survivorship experiences in Canada. This phenomenological qualitative approach was employed to uncover the meaning of the lived experiences of MEIW during their cancer survivorship journey (CSJ). Data were collected through unstructured interviews and one written description from three MEIW. The participants' perspectives of cancer risk factors were believed to be the cause of their cancer and their CSJ was fear-inducing and anxiety-provoking. For the participants, social support, coping, language, information, and cancer care by professionals, as well as cultural beliefs, had significant impacts on this journey. Healthcare professionals need to identify immigrant women's unmet needs of support and psychosocial responses during their CSJ. Language-specific and culturally competent cancer-care intervention programs need development within the Canadian healthcare system.