Perception of Family Interaction Among Young Omani Breast Cancer Survivors

Background: Breast cancer (BC) is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Oman, accounts for 12.79% of all cancers and 21.2% of cancers affecting Omani women. The majority of Omani women diagnosed with BC are younger (median age: 49 years) and presented at advanced stages (stages III and IV), with a low 5-year survival rate (63%). Young Omani women with BC experienced several psychological distress symptoms such as anxiety, depression, fatigue, negative thoughts, suicidal thoughts, fear of dying, a sense of loneliness and poor sexual and body images which affect their perceptions of their own lives. Family interaction is an important factor contributing to the quality of survivorship among young Omani BC survivors as it helps to cope with their psychological distress. Nonetheless, the dearth of studies involving young Omani BC survivors has limited the understanding of family interaction. Aims and Research Questions: The aim of this study is to explore family interaction patterns among young Omani BC survivors. Methodology: A qualitative study in the form of in-depth semi-structured individual interviews will be conducted with eighteen young Omani BC survivors. Woman will be recruited from oncology words, out-patient clinics and day care unit of the of the Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (SQUH). Data collection and analysis will take approximately two years. A content analysis will be used to identify the characteristics of family interaction in this age group. Significance and policy relevance: We expect that this research will identify family resilience related to cancer, especially among young Omani BC survivors including communication patterns, collective attribution and interactive patterns to cope with cancer trauma. This study can also provide evidences to support the development of model-based, culturally specific interventions for young Omani BC survivors which could be used to assist their families and increase their quality of life. The results from this study can enhance healthcare professionals who deal with breast cancer patients to understand the specific social context that help them when making clinical decisions.