Family resilience and vulnerability of patients at diagnosis of lung cancer: A qualitative study

AIM: To explore and analyse the adaptation process of patients and their families at the point of lung cancer diagnosis. METHODS: Totally 23 operable lung cancer patients were included in this study. Colaizzi's method of phenomenology was employed for data analysis. RESULTS: This study found two different aspects of family adaptation at the diagnosis of lung cancer. For family resilience, three themes emerged: (1) Positive family belief systems (giving meaning to a cancer diagnosis and maintaining a positive/optimistic attitude), (2) Flexible family organizational patterns (maintaining the stability of family structure and function, adjusting the relationship between patients and family members and receiving external support and help) and (3) Good communication and problem-solving strategies (open communication on an equal basis, positive and open expression of emotions and collaborative problem-solving). For family vulnerability, three themes were as follows: (1) Negative family belief systems (negative attitudes and concealment and self-isolation due to stigma), (2) Rigid family organizational patterns (adaptation lost, conflicts between family support and patients' willingness and pressure upon social support) and (3) Unhealthy communication and problem-solving (poor communication, emotional asymmetry of family members and tendency to solve problems alone). CONCLUSION: The study highlights the existence of the family resilience and family vulnerability at the point of lung cancer diagnosis and provides patient's perspective for understanding family resilience in specific cultural contexts. PATIENT CONTRIBUTION: The data were collected through face-to-face interviews. TRAIL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ChiCTR2300074801.