The caring experience and supportive care needs of male partners for women with gynaecologic cancer: A qualitative literature review
Xiaoling Ge MSN, RN
Nurse Practitioner
School of Nursing, Anhui Medical University, Hefei City, China
The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei City, China
Search for more papers by this authorHuanhuan Tong BSN, RN
Master Student
School of Nursing, Anhui Medical University, Hefei City, China
Search for more papers by this authorYongxia Song MSN, RN
Lecturer
School of Nursing, Anhui Medical University, Hefei City, China
Search for more papers by this authorHongye He MSN, RN
Nurse Practitioner
School of Nursing, Anhui Medical University, Hefei City, China
The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei City, China
Search for more papers by this authorShuwen Li PhD, RN
Associate Professor
School of Nursing, Anhui Medical University, Hefei City, China
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Jingfang Hong PhD, RN
Professor
School of Nursing, Anhui Medical University, Hefei City, China
Nursing International Collaboration Research Center of Anhui Province, Hefei, China
Correspondence
Jingfang Hong, School of Nursing, Anhui Medical University, No. 81 Mei Shan Road, Shu Shan District, Hefei City, Anhui Province, China.
Email: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorWenru Wang PhD, RN
Associate Professor
Alice Centre for Nursing Studies, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
Search for more papers by this authorXiaoling Ge MSN, RN
Nurse Practitioner
School of Nursing, Anhui Medical University, Hefei City, China
The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei City, China
Search for more papers by this authorHuanhuan Tong BSN, RN
Master Student
School of Nursing, Anhui Medical University, Hefei City, China
Search for more papers by this authorYongxia Song MSN, RN
Lecturer
School of Nursing, Anhui Medical University, Hefei City, China
Search for more papers by this authorHongye He MSN, RN
Nurse Practitioner
School of Nursing, Anhui Medical University, Hefei City, China
The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei City, China
Search for more papers by this authorShuwen Li PhD, RN
Associate Professor
School of Nursing, Anhui Medical University, Hefei City, China
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Jingfang Hong PhD, RN
Professor
School of Nursing, Anhui Medical University, Hefei City, China
Nursing International Collaboration Research Center of Anhui Province, Hefei, China
Correspondence
Jingfang Hong, School of Nursing, Anhui Medical University, No. 81 Mei Shan Road, Shu Shan District, Hefei City, Anhui Province, China.
Email: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorWenru Wang PhD, RN
Associate Professor
Alice Centre for Nursing Studies, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
Search for more papers by this authorXiaoling Ge, Huanhuan Tong, and Yongxia Song are co-first authors and contribute equally to this work.
Abstract
Objective
To systematically review male partners’ caring experience and supportive care needs when caring for women with gynaecologic cancer.
Methods
The PRISMA guidelines were used to conduct this systematic review. We performed a comprehensive literature search in nine databases and qualitative studies published in English or Chinese from inception to January 2020. The included papers were appraised, using the Critical Appraisal Skills Program tool for qualitative research. An inductive thematic analysis method was adopted to synthesise major findings to construct core concepts and themes.
Results
Eight studies were included in this review, and four overarching themes emerged the following: the negative experience of disease, the need for supportive care to cope, adapting to a new life and post-traumatic growth.
Conclusions
This study shows that male partners had both negative and positive experiences in the caring process, and they could adjust themselves to some extent. Their perceived supportive care needs were often neglected.
Relevance to clinical practice
Male partners of women with gynaecologic cancer are an under-recognised group. The couple-oriented or family-oriented supportive care programmes should be implemented to meet the supportive care needs of male partners to enhance their health and well-being.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
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