Experience of spouses of women with breast cancer: an integrative literature review

Abstract

Objetivo: Reunir, caracterizar, analizar, sintetizar e integrar estudios primarios que abordaron las experiencias de los cónyu-ges/esposos/compañeros de mujeres con cáncer de mama, presentando el estado actual del conocimiento. Método: Revisión integradora de la literatura realizada en las bases de datos BVS, PubMed, CINHAL y SciELO. Resultados: La muestra estuvo compuesta de ocho estudios, publicados en el período de 2000 a 2012, que señala-ron las experiencias de la involucración y el cuidado de los maridos con relación a sus esposas enfermas. Conclusión: Se evidencia la necesidad de atención y asistencia a esos cónyuges, así como la orientación y educación para el ejercicio del cuidado, como está realizando el equipo de salud con respecto a las mencionadas mujeres. Se subraya igualmente la importancia de nuevos estudios, a fin de profundizar el conocimiento acerca de esa temática y, de ese modo, perfeccionar la asistencia con mejor fundamento científico. [2000][2001][2002][2003][2004][2005][2006][2007][2008][2009][2010][2011][2012], which pointed to the experiences of the involvement and the care of the husbands towards their ill wives. Conclusion: This study highlights the need for attention and assistance to those spouses, as well as guidance and education to exercise the care the same way as the health staff has done with women. Furthermore, it emphasizes the importance of further studies in order to deepen the knowledge on this topic, and thus, improve the care with better scientific basis.

Feelings and perceptions of men facing his lifemate submitted to mastectomy: integrative review

“…In fact they hide reality, which is often of fatigue and discouragement. Thus, it is seen that it eventually affects the mental health of companions who do not have a moment to blow off steam or express real emotions and allow themselves to feel what is really going on [24].…”

Experiences of Spouses of Women with Breast Cancer: A Content Analysis

“…Making a good decision is an basic and important aspect in different situations (Jahanpour et al, 2010). As women experience cancer, their husbands often become fragile, they consider cancer a factor threatening their sexual partner's life and fear that they will not be able to support and provide proper care for their wives (Neris and Anjos, 2014). Basically, evidence indicate high levels of psychological distress experienced by family caregivers, especially spouses of cancer patients (Li et al, 2013;Khalili et al, 2016); in other words, complication of cancer and its treatment, in addition to the patient, negatively affect the quality of life of their spouses who act as informal caregivers and provide the highest level of support for married women (Wagner et al, 2006).…”

Experience of the spouse of a woman with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy: a qualitative case study

“…Thus, cancer can be considered a family disease, which, when diagnosed in one member, has the power to change the life experience of the other family members, including spouses. 4,5 The repercussions of cancer in the context of patients' families include financial concerns, problems at work, and relationship issues. In addition, cancer can interfere with marriage, and couples may divorce as a consequence of this additional burden and changes in the family.…”

“…They feel vulnerable in the fact of the disease and cannot handle the suffering of their wives. 4,5 A integrative literature review focused on the perceptions and experiences of spouses of women with breast cancer and the ways in which they cope with difficulties revealed that few Brazilian or international studies have addressed the proposed objective, pointing to a gap in knowledge of this area. The findings of this review stressed the need to invest in research with a stronger focus on this topic.…”

“…The findings of this review stressed the need to invest in research with a stronger focus on this topic. 5 Considering that sociocultural influences have a significant impact on knowledge, behavior, ways to deal with different situations in life, and the meanings that spouses associate with the disease experience, the objective of the present study was to answer the following question: How do spouses of women with breast cancer define the meanings of the experience of chemotherapy of their wives? The goal of the present study was to identify the meanings associated with the experience of spouses of women with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy.…”