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- Title
Struggling with food and eating-life after major upper gastrointestinal surgery.
- Authors
Carey, Sharon; Laws, Rachel; Ferrie, Suzie; Young, Jane; Allman-Farinelli, Margaret
- Abstract
Purpose: Few qualitative studies have explored patients' experience of food and eating following major upper gastrointestinal cancer surgery. The aim of this article was to explore the longer-term impact of different types of major upper gastrointestinal surgeries on people's relationship with food. Methods: Twenty-six people having had major upper gastrointestinal cancer surgery greater than 6 months ago participated in semi-structured interviews. These interviews aimed to explore a person's physical, emotional and social relationship with food and eating following surgery. Interviews were tape-recorded, transcribed and analysed using an inductive thematic analysis approach. Results: Interview findings revealed a journey of adjustment, grieving and resignation. The physical symptoms and experiences of people differed between types of surgery, but the coping mechanisms remained the same. Conclusions: The grieving and resignation people experienced suggest adjustment and coping similar to that of someone with a chronic illness. Remodeling of health services is needed to ensure this patient group receives ongoing management and support.
- Subjects
GASTROINTESTINAL cancer treatment; ONCOLOGIC surgery; PATIENTS; THEMATIC analysis; PSYCHOLOGICAL adaptation; QUALITATIVE research; RESIGNATION (Psychology); CHRONIC diseases
- Publication
Supportive Care in Cancer, 2013, Vol 21, Issue 10, p2749
- ISSN
0941-4355
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s00520-013-1858-8