oa The lived experiences of smokers with lung cancer in Qatar

Purpose/Objectives: The purpose of the study was to investigate experiences and perceptions of lung cancer patients who have a smoking habit and to provide health care professionals with more insights into the complexities of these people's motivations, rationalities, guilt, self-blame, and stigma in Qatar. Methodology: Descriptive phenomenology was used to explore the lived experiences of smoker with lung cancer. An in-depth unstructured conversational style interview was used as a method for data collection. The study was conducted in the inpatient, outpatient, and day care units at the National Center for Cancer Care and Research (NCCCR). Purposive sampling was used to recruit five lung cancer patients who smoke. Colaizzi's (1978) method was used to analyze data. Findings: Participants described five related themes: (a) smoking is not the only cause of lung cancer, (b) acute self-awareness of smoking as an addiction (c) self-blame related to lung cancer diagnosis, (d) smoking cessation clinics are not useful, and (e) nurses and physicians are not supportive during treatment. Participants did not believe that there was a connection between personal smoking behaviors and developing lung cancer. They believed some patients are diagnosed with lung cancer without a smoking history and other environmental agents or lifestyle factors can cause lung cancer. Participants claimed smoking is an addiction, and they smoked to relieve their stress and anxiety. The majority of participants in this study experienced feelings of self-blame for being engaged in smoking behavior that increased their risk of lung cancer. Participants said the smoking cessation clinic was not useful because the physician did not listen to their experiences and instead would gave them nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) tablets and discharged them from the clinic without proper consultation. Participants believed that physicians should counsel their patients about smoking cessation. Also, they suggested counselling, educational materials, and peer support groups would be more helpful resources than pharmacology therapy in quitting smoking. Conclusion: The current study describes the lived experiences of smokers with lung cancer in Qatar. The findings of this study would be helpful for nurses and physicians to know why patients continue to smoke after their lung cancer diagnosis. It is important to understand the lived experiences of smokers with lung cancer in order to help them to quit smoking. Health care professionals working within the smoking cessation clinic would likely be more effective if they understand the lived experiences of lung cancer patients who continue to smoke. Understanding the lived experiences of lung cancer patients with smoking habit also increases their physical and psychological wellbeing and provides them with the opportunity to know their cancer therapies and to cooperate with their treatments. These findings are important for nursing because nurses are expected to provide an integrated approach to care for their patients. It is important for nurses to ensure smokers with lung cancer do not experience additional burdens from their perceptions that could have a negative impact on their quality of life. Nurses should also avoid criticizing smokers with lung cancer and supporting them to quit smoking. Key Word: Lived experiences, perceptions, lung cancer, lung sarcoma, cigarette smoking, and smoker