ประสบการณ์ความผาสุกด้านจิตวิญญาณของวัยรุ่นโรคมะเร็ง

Abstract

This qualitative research aimed to describe the meaning of spiritual well-being experience of adolescents with cancer in a tertiary hospital, Southern Thailand. Purposive sampling was used to select 12 children aged 11-15 years, diagnosed with cancer and receiving treated with chemotherapy obove or in combination with radiation therapy or surgery for 1-2 years. Data were collected by in-depth interview. The modified Van Manen method version was used to analyze data. Trustworthiness of the study was established by following the criteria of Lincoln and Guba. The participantants' data were thoroughly reviewed by the participantants themselve (Member checking) and by the thesis advisor (Peer debriefing). The findings revealed that the participants reflected the meaning of spiritual well-being in six characteristics including: 1)having a clear goal in life; 2) feeling that life was precious and meaningful; 3)having encouragement as power to fight; 4)having hope to strengthen the mind; 5)giving power to ourself by having a strong mind; and 6) feeling happiness. This finding guides the understanding of spiritual well-being experience in adolescents with cancer, which in turn can be used as information to plan nursing activities to promote spiritual well-being in adolescents with cancer to be able to continue living with spiritual well-being and good quality of life.