Coping Mechanisms of Sub-Saharan African Female Immigrants with Breast Cancer

Coping Mechanisms of Sub-Saharan African Female Immigrants with Breast Cancer by Ernest Opoku Agyeman BSN, Washington Adventist University, 2007 MPH, Hebrew University-Hadassah, 1990 BA, Andrews University, 1989 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Public Health Walden University November 2017 Abstract Coping mechanisms of breast cancer is a public health problem among African females, particularly, the Sub-Saharan African female immigrants. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the coping mechanisms of the research group that could be used to develop and implement an intervention program to promote the quality of adaptation to improve the quality of life. The study achieved the objective by the use of 1-to-1 interviews of purposive samples of 2 and 12 using Roy Adaptation Model. Interviewed data were collected from females diagnosed with breast cancer, in treatment, and with remissions. The pilot study (n = 2) result was used to appraise the method of the primary study. The primary study sample (N = 12) data were thematically analyzed using a grounding approach. Summary of the primary copings identified in the study was crying, religion, family support, social support networks, problem-focused, emotion-focused, and relaxation techniques. The rest were positive reappraisal, health insurance/medical staff, and prevention. The findings could not be generalized to the general female immigrant population because of the sample size. However, the study has added to the knowledge and understanding of the coping mechanism of the study population. Coping mechanisms, detecting breast cancer early, and education, constitute the primary interventions that may bring significant social change in the study population.Coping mechanisms of breast cancer is a public health problem among African females, particularly, the Sub-Saharan African female immigrants. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the coping mechanisms of the research group that could be used to develop and implement an intervention program to promote the quality of adaptation to improve the quality of life. The study achieved the objective by the use of 1-to-1 interviews of purposive samples of 2 and 12 using Roy Adaptation Model. Interviewed data were collected from females diagnosed with breast cancer, in treatment, and with remissions. The pilot study (n = 2) result was used to appraise the method of the primary study. The primary study sample (N = 12) data were thematically analyzed using a grounding approach. Summary of the primary copings identified in the study was crying, religion, family support, social support networks, problem-focused, emotion-focused, and relaxation techniques. The rest were positive reappraisal, health insurance/medical staff, and prevention. The findings could not be generalized to the general female immigrant population because of the sample size. However, the study has added to the knowledge and understanding of the coping mechanism of the study population. Coping mechanisms, detecting breast cancer early, and education, constitute the primary interventions that may bring significant social change in the study population. Coping Mechanisms of Sub-Saharan African Female Immigrants with Breast Cancer by Ernest Opoku Agyeman BSN, Washington Adventist University, 2007 MPH, Hebrew University-Hadassah, 1990 BA, Andrews University, 1989 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Public Health Walden University November 30, 2017 Dedication I dedicate my dissertation to my uncle, Kofi Kwateng, my mother, Amma Duffie, and my nuclear family, Dora Opoku Agyeman, Dr. Eillen Opoku Dankwaah, James Opoku Kwateng and Anna Gifty Opoku-Agyeman. They each provided me with support and encouragement throughout the dissertation process, and for this, I am deeply appreciative. I am also indebted to my uncle, who provided me with support in my primary education. My sweet mother, Amma, who sacrificed her life for me, but died at the beginning of my course work. I cannot enough express enough gratitude for my wife, who kept me physically fit and sacrificed so much as I worked on my dissertation. I also thank Dora Opoku Agyeman her care, concern, and support. I thank my daughter, Dr. Eillen Opoku Dankwaah, who looked after my health while I was preparing this dissertation. I thank Anna Gifty Opoku-Agyeman, who assisted with the typing and my daughter, Eillen, and son, James Kwateng for their encouraging words each time they visited my home. I thank Ms. Yaa Brenyah, who was the foundation and inspiration of my education in the United States of America (USA). I also appreciate the African women who volunteered for this study, particularly Mrs. Ify, (AWCC Director) who supported Sub-Saharan African female immigrants with breast cancer survivors group. Finally, thanks to God Who has led me thus far. Acknowledgments I owe considerable gratitude to Dr. Charles Manu, an alumnus of Walden University and his wife, Mrs. Vera Manu for their advice, encouragement, and mentorship. Dr. Manu influenced the choice of this dissertation’s topic. I also acknowledge Dr. (Mrs.) Lucy Donkor, Dr. Stephen Kaba and Professor Kofi OwusuMensa for their academic contributions toward the dissertation. I am indebted to many of the faculty and staff whose guidance, counseling and insights during academic counseling at residencies have led me up to this point. I also acknowledge Dr. Raymond Panas (Chair) and Dr. Jennifer Oliphant (committee member) for their coaching, correction, and counseling to bring this dissertation to a reality.