化学物質による慢性呼吸器障害をもつ壮年期男性のスピリチュアリティ

Spirituality in a Middle-Aged Male with Chronic Respiratory Disorder Caused by Chemicals Inhalation

要旨

　目的：仕事中に化学物質を吸入し，慢性呼吸器障害をもった壮年期男性のスピリチュアリティを明らかにすること．

　方法：40歳代の1名の男性患者を当事者とし，非構造化面接で得たデータを記述的現象学の方法を用いて分析した．

　結果：当事者は【自分の身体が壊れる恐怖】【大変な病気であると確定されたことへの衝撃】【不条理な経験の問い】【自分の病気のことを楽観的に捉えていたことへの後悔】【医療従事者に対しての行き場のない悔しさ】【生存への希求】と【壮年期の男性としての役割を全うしたい希求】のスピリチュアリティを経験した．

　結論：診断が確定するまでに長い期間が掛かり，生命が脅かされる身体の苦痛や対処療法しか治療方法がないという疾患に罹患したことのペインを経験した．一方では父親の役割を果たしたいという望みから，生きることへの希求のwell-beingのスピリチュアリティをもつ経験した．

　Objective: To examine the spirituality of a middle-aged male with chronic respiratory disorder due to chemical inhalation at work.

　Method: The method of descriptive phenomenology was used to analyze data obtained from unstructured interviews with an-adult male patient in his fortie.

　Results: The participant experienced spirituality in the form of “fear of my body breaking down,” “shock of being confirmed as having a serious illness,” “questioning of absurd experiences,” “regret of having been optimistic about my illness,” “regret of having nowhere to go but to the medical profession,” “desire for survival,” and “live to fulfill my role as a mature man”.

　Conclusion: The participant experienced the spiritual pain of having a disease that requires prolonged diagnostic time is associated with life-threatening physical pain, and can only be treated using coping mechanisms. However, he also experienced well-being in his spirituality in the form of wanting to live and fulfill his role as a father.