THE EXPERIENCE OF CHOOSING FOR WOMEN WITH BREAST CANCER (DECISION MAKING).
Contributors: University of Colorado Health Sciences Center.
Published: 1995
Number of pages: 212
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.; Psychology, Personality.
Description: Choosing is a major phenomenon of concern for nursing. In this study the structure of the meaning of the lived experience of choosing for women with early stage breast cancer was generated. The theoretical framework from which the present study developed was Parse's (1992) theory of human becoming. A design following the qualitative research methodology developed by Parse directed the study. Through the processes of dialogical engagement, extracting essences and synthesizing the essences into propositional statements, the concepts of choosing were linked to Parse's theory of human becoming and heuristically interpreted. Findings indicated that choosing is expressed in the core concepts of expanding awareness through engaging in trusting caring relationships, honoring uniqueness in imagining the not-yet, and garnering strength leading to clear directions and a different view of self. Parse's method proved effective for enhancing the understanding of the process of choosing.

Choosing is of particular importance today because of women's increased participation in making decisions regarding healthcare management. Eleven participants shared their stories with the researcher. The verbatim transcripts were then dwelled with and narratives constructed. Similarities with and differences from studies of decision-making were reviewed.

Major similarities related to the findings of the many dimensions of choosing as an interrelated construct. Differences centered on viewing the same phenomenon of choosing from different paradigms and with different philosophical assumptions. The research conceptualized in the human science paradigm advanced the concept to be operationalized within the paradigm where the patient's values are the driving force for the choosing process. Implications for practice, education and research have been discussed in light of the findings.(DIAGRAM, TABLE OR GRAPHIC OMITTED...PLEASE SEE DAI)The findings were related to the three processes of practice (Parse, 1992): illuminating meaning, synchronizing rhythms, and mobilizing transcendence; and they were contrasted with the traditional roles of support, resource and presence.

Recommendations for further study include the continued use of qualitative methods as a means of explicating nursing phenomena, repeating the design of this study with various other groups, and further developing Parse's nursing research method to expand the theory.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 56-10, Section: B, page: 5422.

Thesis (PH.D.)--UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER, 1995.

School code: 0831.