The Lived Experiences of Latina Breast Cancer Survivors

Evaluating Primary Research Articles -- Healing Faith: A Qualitative Exploration of Latino Breast Cancer Survivors by Barden et al. ()

Part I: Components of the Study

Problem:

Compared to other cancer survivors, Latino cancer survivors suffer from lower levels of social quality of life, higher levels of depression and distress as well as a generally diminished quality of life.

Primary research question or purpose of the study

The primary purpose of this qualitative study was to provide the results of an exploratory analysis of the lived experiences of seven Latino breast cancer survivors to identify culturally based and systematic barriers, challenges and other constraints that have adversely affected the current quality of their lives.

Research hypothesis or anticipated outcome

Although the outcome of the study was not specifically anticipated, all seven of the participants were part of a larger study that investigated the impact of surviving breast cancer on women. Interestingly, while the participation criteria that were applied by these researchers included having a diagnosis of breast cancer, being a resident of Florida, having a partner who was willing to participate in the study and having completed primary treatment, there was no specific indication that these seven participants or their partners were Latina. This eligibility criterion was either based on eligibility for the original study or was left to the assumption by the reader based in part on the participants’ fluency in Spanish since six of the seven participants stated they preferred having their interviews conducted in Spanish.

Methodology

The methodology for this study was exploratory in research design, using a consensual qualitative approach to administer face-to-face or telephonic interview. The researchers indicate that this methodology was regarded as optimal for the purposes of this study since it took into account the “complexity and personal sensitivity of the subject matter” (p. 145). In addition, the researchers also operated in teams to review the individual results of the qualitative analysis using a bracketing method.

The researchers indicate that the use of a bracketing method was intended to provide all team members with the opportunity to weigh in on the accuracy of the initial individual coding analyses to ensure that personal biases or life experiences would unduly influence their analysis of the data. The researchers concluded that although some of their team members had experienced relevant life events similar to the participants, none of them were considered as personally biased in their analyses of the interview data. Finally, all participants received a $100 gift care as compensation after completing their interviews.

Sources

As noted above, all seven of the participants were taken from a larger study that generally examined the lives of breast cancer survivors.

Population of interest

The population of interest in this study was the Latina population in general and those living in the United States and the state of Florida in particular. The researchers report that while cancer represents the second leading cause of death among all Americans, the Latino population disproportionately experiences its adverse effects. Besides powerful cultural forces, the researchers also cite multiple interpersonal and intrapersonal issues that played a role in shaping the survivors’ post-cancer lives.

Study sample

The final study sample was comprised of seven Latina participants and their partners who expressed a willingness to take part in this derivative study.

Data-gathering instruments

The researchers used a series of scripted questions for their structured, face-to-face or telephonic interviews with the participants.

Study procedures

The qualitative findings that emerged from the interviews were transcribed and then reviewed by the entire team using the above-mentioned bracketing approach to ensure their accuracy and to identify recurring themes. All told, 10 separate domains were identified by the researchers as follows:

1. Emotional reactions;

2. Sources of support;

3. Change to intimacy;

4. Helpful to recovery;

5. Hindering to recovery;

6. Shared experience;

7. Existential concerns;

8. Stigma;

9. Faith; and,

10. Posttraumatic growth.

These domains were identified using a quantitative analytical approach that counted the number of times that different participants voiced concerns over various issues in their lives, with these 10 domains being ultimately identified as the most common among the participants and their partners.

The researchers’ use of verbatim quotations to the structured interview questions were also valuable additions to their analyses since they highlighted the lived experiences of the participants as shaped by their Latino culture. For instance, one participant emphasized that with respect to factors that contributed to their post-cancer recovery that her partner “…never left me alone, he always took care of me” (p. 145). Likewise, another participant stated in response to the same question, “It was scary. … The worst thing I have ever experienced, stomach-churning, just sad, not knowing if you’re going to live past a few more years, not knowing what’s coming up, especially at the beginning” (p. 145).

These personal observations and the others used by the researchers underscore the wide range of reactions that everyone experiences in response to a life-threatening condition, and they make it clear that multiple personal and outside factors such as stigma and faith can have a profound effect on the post-cancer road to physical and mental health recovery.

Part II: Brief Critical Analysis Summary

Major findings and conclusions:

An especially noteworthy finding to emerge from the qualitative analyses was that most of the participants had experienced significant personal growth as a direct result of their breast cancer, including taking charge of their lives and inculcating a strong desire to help other similarly situated women in their recovery. In addition, some of the same cultural factors that helped some of the participants during their post-cancer recovery also adversely affected others. For instance, while most participants indicated their culture and individual perspectives helped them cope with their cancer diagnosis, the cultural value of fatalismo (e.g., the belief that the disease was out of their control and there was nothing that could be done about it) made some participants feel powerless and hopeless which further exacerbated their anxiety as well as their concerns for their ability to care for their family members and themselves.