Trajectory Analysis of Family Resilience and Family Vulnerability in Lung Cancer Surgery Patients: A Longitudinal Qualitative Study

BACKGROUND: The diagnosis and surgery of lung cancer may cause greater role changes and more volatile adaptive process in the family. AIMS: To analyze the overall trajectory and characteristics at various periods in family resilience and vulnerability among lung cancer surgery patients. METHODS: Twenty-four lung cancer surgery patients from a tertiary A hospital in Hunan Province were selected using the purposive sampling method. Semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted at five time points: admission (T0), 2 weeks after surgery (T1), 3 months after surgery (T2), 6 months after surgery (T3), and 1 year after surgery (T4). Nvivo12.0 was utilized to store and analyze the data. RESULTS: Family resilience and vulnerability of lung cancer surgery patients exhibited a trajectory of initial decline followed by stabilization, which can be divided into three periods: shock and initial coping period (T0), adjustment and adaption period (T1-T2), and stabilization period (T3-T4). For each period, family resilience and vulnerability showed different traits. CONCLUSION: This study confirms that family resilience in lung cancer patients is an evolving and dynamic process with characteristics at different periods. Medical staff should focus on both the trends and characteristics of family resilience and vulnerability and provide targeted support.