关键词: 乳腺癌, 家庭支持, 社会支持, 家庭融合, 质性研究, 护理

Abstract:

Objective To explore the ways of breast cancer patients and family fusion and self-adjustment strategies，and to provide reference information for the adjustment of breast cancer patients and their families. Methods By purposive and theoretical sampling，we selected patients who sought medical treatment at a tertiary hospital from September 2020 to July 2023. The semi-structured interviews were conducted in the suspicion，diagnosis，treatment，and recovery periods，respectively. Charmaz’s constructivist grounded theory was used for data analysis. Results The behavioural characteristics of breast cancer patients’ fusion with their families throughout the disease trajectory were anxiety transmission，information sharing，emotional connection and experience review. The patient’s fusion behaviour can bring dual psychological experiences to the patients，including a sense of relaxation and anxiety，a sense of trust and loss of control，a sense of intimacy and constraint，and a sense of meaning and burden. Self-adjustment strategies，such as staying calm，opening communication，setting boundaries and self-identification，can promote patients’ and families’ adaptation. Conclusion The adjustment model of breast cancer patients and family fusion suggests medical staff to pay attention to the identification of emotional reactions of patients and their families in family fusion according to the behavioural characteristics of patients and family integration，and timely apply self-adjustment strategies to improve patients’ behavioural management ability，reduce negative emotions in the family system，and promote the adjustment of patients and families.

Key words: Breast Cancer, Family Support, Social Support, Family Fusion, Qualitative Research, Nursing Care