Cancer treatment experiences among survivors of childhood sexual abuse: A qualitative investigation of triggers and reactions to cumulative trauma.
Cancer treatment experiences among survivors of childhood sexual abuse: A qualitative investigation of triggers and reactions to cumulative trauma.
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DOI：
10.1017/s147895151700075x
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发表时间：
2018-12
影响因子：
2.2
通讯作者：
Montgomery GH
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Schnur JB;Dillon MJ;Goldsmith RE;Montgomery GH
Twenty-five percent of women and 8% of men in the United States have experienced childhood sexual abuse (CSA) before age 18. For these individuals, healthcare visits and interactions can be retraumatizing due to perceived similarities to past abuse (e.g., pain, undressing, lack of control). However, no prior studies have provided formal qualitative analyses regarding CSA survivors’ reactions to cancer treatment. Therefore, this study’s objective was to identify key themes pertaining to CSA survivors’ cancer treatment experiences. Male and female members of Amazon Mechanical Turk (N=159; mean age 44.27, SD=10.02) participated in an anonymous, online survey study. Inclusion criteria included reporting: CSA history; a diagnosis of colorectal, gynecologic, breast or skin cancer; and experience of triggers and/or difficulties during cancer treatment. Participants’ responses to open-ended questions were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. We identified two primary themes describing CSA survivors’ experiences: Theme 1 – Treatment-related triggers (key subthemes: procedure-related, provider-related, and emotional triggers) and Theme 2 – Questioning the meaning of cumulative trauma (e.g., “Why me again?”). For CSA survivors, cancer and its treatment can trigger thoughts and emotions associated with the original abuse, and negative evaluations of themselves, the world, and their future. Findings are consistent with past research on CSA survivors’ experiences in non-cancer healthcare settings and add to the literature by highlighting their struggles during cancer treatment. Present results can inform further research on trauma survivors’ reactions to cancer treatment, and give cancer care providers the context they need to understand and sensitively serve a substantial yet often overlooked patient group.
