'At least there is something in my bra': A qualitative study of women's experiences with oncoplastic breast surgery.

AIMS: This study explores how women diagnosed with breast cancer may be supported by physicians and nurses during physical and existential changes related to oncoplastic breast surgery in Denmark. The following research questions were addressed: (a) how do women experience oncoplastic breast surgery, and (b) how does cancer treatment affect their body image? DESIGN: A descriptive qualitative study design with a six-step thematic analysis influenced by Braun and Clarke was applied in this study. This paper has been prepared in accordance with the consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research. METHODS: Fourteen in-depth interviews with seven women diagnosed with breast cancer were conducted from August 2018 to March 2019. In this qualitative study, data analysis was performed concurrent with data construction, recognizing that the process of analysis and making sense of data should start during the interviews. We explicitly frame the discussion of the findings in a theory of embodiment influenced by Merleau-Ponty, consistent with the construct of exploring human experiences to generate meaningful knowledge for applied practice. RESULTS: Two overall themes with related subthemes were identified: (1) 'Treatment is required for life-threatening cancer', and (2) 'Striving for a new normal body'. Across both themes, women's experiences reflected a 'time pendulum' as they contemplated their past identity, their current rationale and their transition to a future beyond breast cancer with a changed body. CONCLUSION: Participants reflected on their past, present and future when facing an altered body image caused by their breast cancer diagnosis and oncoplastic breast surgery. The participants in the study expressed broad levels of satisfaction with the results of the oncoplastic breast surgery. The reconstructed breast helped them to live normally again, in particular maintaining interpersonal relationships. Breast reconstruction supported participants' embodiment experiences and redefinition of their 'new normal'. IMPACT: This study showed the dynamic changes in self-definition from receiving a breast cancer diagnosis and cancer treatment to oncoplastic breast surgery. The main finding of self-redefinition was from the perspective of breast cancer women who were in a period of transition between post-diagnosis and consultation for oncoplastic breast surgery. The findings indicate that advanced nurse specialists in the field of oncoplastic breast surgery can enhance psychosocial wellbeing and support women pre- and post-operatively by focusing on patient experiences of self-image and embodiment.

User perspectives and preferences regarding a mobile health cough application: A qualitative study during the coronavirus disease pandemic in Denmark.

INTRODUCTION: Health care systems worldwide are currently facing major challenges because of the coronavirus disease pandemic. When individuals experience coronavirus disease symptoms, they often have to decide whether to seek health care services and render themselves vulnerable to infection or stay home and monitor their condition. Coronavirus disease management strategies should aim to reduce transmission, promote disease control, and facilitate self-monitoring within the population. In this regard, mobile health technologies serve as supportive tools, and acquiring knowledge about user perspectives will facilitate the development and integration of coronavirus disease-related applications. Accordingly, this study aimed to examine user perspectives on applications that monitor coronavirus disease-related physical signs and identify discrepancies between user expectations and developer design perspectives within the Danish context. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A qualitative research design was adopted. Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted to examine user expectations during the first wave of the coronavirus disease pandemic in April 2020. The theoretical framework, which was inspired by the concept of health literacy, was developed using a six-step thematic analytic approach. RESULTS: The analysis yielded two major themes that captured user experiences: (1) coronavirus disease-related applications may serve as digital tools that foster safety when physical signs are monitored and (2) the acceptability of coronavirus disease-related applications depends on the adoption of a personalised and user-friendly design.