Awareness of the consequences of cancer and their treatment on the implementation of occupations

Uvod: Rak je splošni izraz za skupino bolezni, katerim skupna značilnost je nenadzorovana rast spremenjenih celic znotraj specifičnega tipa, organa ali tkiva. Rak in različni načini zdravljenja raka osebam velikokrat pustijo posledice na fizičnem, psihološkem in socialnem področju. To jim otežuje vključevanje v njim pomembne okupacije, kar znižuje kakovost življenja. Namen: Raziskali bomo kakšno je vključevanje oseb z rakom v procesu zdravljenja in po njem v izvedbi okupacij. Zanima nas, kakšne so posledice rakavih obolenj in njihovega zdravljenja na okupacije in kako se kažejo, katere okupacije udeleženci navajajo kot tiste, kjer so potrebovali pomoč in kako doživljajo nastale spremembe, vezane na okupacije, ki so posledica rakave bolezni in načinov zdravljenja. Metode dela: V kvalitativni raziskavi je sodelovalo pet oseb z rakom, starih med 35 in 59 let. Podatke smo pridobili s pomočjo polstrukturiranih intervjujev, ki smo jih zvočno posneli. Transkripte zvočnih posnetkov smo kvalitativno vsebinsko analizirali. Rezultati: Kvalitativna vsebinska analiza je privedla do oblikovanja treh kategorij in 14 podkategorij s pripadajočimi kodami. Ugotovili smo, da imata rak in njegovo zdravljenje različne posledice na izvedbo okupacij. Te so za osebe z rakom lahko pozitivne, škodljive ali neprijetne. Bolezen in zdravljenje sta prinesla tudi uvedbo novih okupacij, opustitev starih in uporabo pripomočkov. Sodelujoče so pomoč potrebovale predvsem pri ožjih in širših dnevnih aktivnostih, za kar so največkrat zaprosile svojce in prijatelje. V pomoč so jim bile tudi podporne skupine. Ob postavitvi diagnoze so izkusile številne neprijetne občutke. Pri spoprijemanju z boleznijo so si pomagale z različnimi načini. Začele so opravljati nove prostočasne aktivnosti, za katere prej niso imele zanimanja ali časa. Veliko breme jim je predstavljala tudi spremenjena samopodoba in težave pri vračanju na delo. Razprava in zaključek: Rak in njegovo zdravljenje pustita številne posledice, ki vplivajo na izvajanje vsakodnevnih aktivnosti/okupacij in kakovost življenja. Tekom raziskave smo ugotovili, da je na obravnavano temo še vedno premalo obstoječe literature. Potrebno bi bilo izvesti kakovostne študije in znanje prenesti v prakso. Raziskava prav tako nudi koristne informacije, katere lahko delovni terapevti uporabijo pri delu z onkološkimi bolniki.Introduction: Cancer is a general term for a group of diseases whose common feature is the uncontrolled growth of altered cells within a specific type, organ, or tissue. Cancer and various treatments for cancer often leave consequences for people physically, psychologically, and socially. This makes it difficult for them to integrate important occupations into it, which lowers their quality of life. Purpose: We wanted to investigate the involvement of people with cancer in the treatment process and after it in the implementation of occupations. We were interested in the consequences of cancer and its treatment on occupations and how these occupations are shown by participants as those who needed help and how they experience the changes related to occupations resulting from cancer and treatments. Methods of work: 5 people with cancer aged between 35 and 59 participated in a qualitative study. Data were obtained through semi-structured interviews that were audio-recorded. The transcripts of the sound recordings were qualitatively analyzed in terms of content. Results: Qualitative content analysis led to the creation of 3 categories and 14 subcategories with corresponding codes. We found that cancer and its treatment have different implications for the implementation of occupations. These can be positive, harmful, or unpleasant for people with cancer. Illness and treatment also brought about the introduction of new occupations, the abandonment of old ones, and the use of paraphernalia. Participants needed help mainly with narrower and wider daily activities, for which they most often asked relatives and friends. Support groups also helped them. At the time of diagnosis, they experienced a number of unpleasant feelings. They helped each other in dealing with the disease in various ways. They started doing new leisure activities for which they had no interest or time before. They were also burdened by a changed self-image and difficulties in returning to work. Discussion and conclusion: Cancer and its treatment have many consequences that affect the implementation of daily activities/occupations and quality of life. During the research, we found that there is still a lack of existing literature on this topic. Quality studies should be carried out and knowledge put into practice. The research also provides useful information that occupational therapists can use when working with oncology patients