A Conceptual Framework of the Experience of Future Disorientation in Adults Living With and Beyond Cancer

McGeechan, Grant (2014) A Conceptual Framework of the Experience of Future Disorientation in Adults Living With and Beyond Cancer. Doctoral thesis, Northumbria University.

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Abstract

Background: There has been little research into the area of future disorientation in adults living with and beyond a cancer diagnosis. Research conducted in this area tends to focus on women who have been treated for gynaecological cancer and to be cross-sectional. Therefore, little is known about the impact of future disorientation on other groups of people living with and beyond cancer, including men, and little is known about how the experience may change over time.

Aims: This thesis aims to develop a conceptual framework illustrating the experience of future disorientation. This was achieved by exploring what the consequence of future disorientation are, what factors cause participants to experience future disorientation and what factors prevent/reduce the impact of future disorientation.

Methods: This study utilised an interpretative phenomenological analysis approach (IPA) which informed all aspects of the data collection and analysis process. Eight patients attending follow up clinics in the North East of England were recruited and were interviewed on two occasions six months apart. The interviews were semi-structured and analysed using an IPA approach.

Results: The results of this study have shown that future disorientation can be experienced by men and women living with and beyond cancer, that it can persist over time, and have a number of consequences. A number of factors have been identified which may contribute to the experience of future disorientation such as cancer related fears, and anxiety. Furthermore a number of factors emerged which may protect patients from experiencing future disorientation, such as support networks and making lifestyle adjustments. This thesis constitutes an original contribution to knowledge as no work has previously sought to map out the conceptual framework of future disorientation or how it changes over time.

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