Experiences of Spouses of Patients with Hematologic Malignancies: Finding a Way to Get Out of the Endless Tunnel

Abstract

Purpose: This study was to explore experiences of spouses with hematologic malignancy patients. The main question was "What are experiences of spouses whose husband or wife was diagnosed with hematologic malignancy?". Methods: Participants for this study were 12 spouses. Data were collected through individual in-depth unstructured interviews with participants from Feb, 2014 to June, 2015 and analyzed using Strauss and Corbin's grounded theory methodology. Results: A core category was 'Finding a way to get out of the endless tunnel'. The process is 1) Shock, 2) Confusion, 3) Struggle, 4) Living with the disease, 5) Maturation within the disease. The contextual conditions were 'Responsibility for patient', 'Fear of spouseless future'. The intervening conditions were 'Having support', 'Having closer marital relationship', Keeping patient's disease repressed. Finally, Participants reached 'Circling around the disease', 'Finding personal growth'. Conclusion: The results of this study could help understand the experiences of spouses of hematologic malignancy patients. The emerged process of their experiences gives a framework to develop strategies to help spouses to overcome disease.