Exploring the experiences of sleep quality among gynecologic cancer patients with adjuvant chemotherapy

[[abstract]]Within the top-ten cancers, the gross incidence rate of the cervical cancer and uterine cancer (including carcinoma in situ) accounted for about 58.62% of all cancers, and the uterine cancer has increased 14.65% over the previous year in Taiwan (Ministry of Health and Welfare 2013). This study was designed to explore gynecologic cancer patients’ sleep quality condition during the chemotherapy. A qualitative study through in-depth interviews was conducted to capture the sleep quality condition with gynecologic cancer patients who were affected with gynecologic cancer stage 1 or stage 2, and they currently undergo 3rd. course of adjuvant chemotherapy after operations in Taiwan. A total of 11 participants consented and were interviewed using a semi-structured interview guide. We collect all contents of individual interviews and change into transcripts by writing word by word; subsequently, proceed to analyze information and generalize a conclusion with content analysis. According to the research of gynecologic cancer patients’ sleep quality condition during the chemotherapy, we identified the result can be organized to three themes, namely: impacts of chemotherapy, little-known inner burden and coping strategies. This study shows gynecologic cancer patients face the shock in chemotherapy, their reactions in transition period and how they cope with it to assist themselves to improve the trouble sleeping during the chemotherapy. The result of this research not only provide references to clinical nurse specialists to care gynecologic cancer patients during the chemotherapy but also promote the quality when nursing staffs care gynecologic cancer patients