lnternational journal of Nursing

lnternational journal ofNursin(g Practice 2004-; 10: 24-8-256
5‘ RESEARCH PAPER 5‘
cancer patients ’ experiences

Maria Arman RNM PhD
Senior lecturer, Department gr

Weljrare and Care, Faculty zfHealtl1 Sciences, University tflinlaiiping, Norrleoping, Sweden
Arne Rehnsfeldt RN PhD
Senior lecturer, Department gr Weljrare and Care,

Faculty zfHealtl1 Sciences, University tflinlaiiping, Norrleoping, Sweden
Lisbet Lindholm RN PhD
Senior lecturer, Department of Caring Science, /ibo Alzademi University,

Vasa, Finland
Elisabeth Hamrin RN BM PhD
Professor Emeritus, Department (yr/1/Iedicine and Care, Clinical Pharmacology and Nursing Science, Faculty ofHealtl1 Sciences,
University oflinlzoping, Linleiiping, Sweden
Katie Eriksson RN PhD
Professor, Department ofCaring Science, /ibo Alzademi University, Vasa, Finland, and Director

ofNursing,
Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinlei, Finland
Acceptedfor publication june 2004
Arman M, Rehnsfeldt A, Lindholm L, Hamrin E, Eriksson K.

lnternationaljournal ofNursing Practice 2004-; 10: 24-8-256
Suffering related to health care: A study of breast cancer patients’ experiences
A previous study indicated

that patient narratives include experiences of suffering caused or increased by health-care
encounters.The aim of this study was to interpret and understand the meaning

of patients’ experiences of suffering related
to health care from an ethical, existential and ontological standpoint. Sixteen Women with breast cancer in Sweden and
Finland took part in qualitative interviews analysed with a hermeneutic, interpretive approach. The outcome showed that
suffering related to health care is a complex

phenomenon and constitutes an ethical challenge to health-care personnel.The
vvomen’s experiences of suffering related to health care tended to be of similar

seriousness as their experiences of suffering
in relation to having cancer. In an ethical, existential and ontological sense, suffering related to health care is