子どもをもつがん患者同士の対話の特徴—親子参加型がん患者支援プログラムでの母親同士の語りの分析

Types of Dialogues among Cancer Survivors with Children: Analyses of the Dialogues among Mothers in a Parent—Child Support Program

要旨

　本研究の目的は，がん患者とその子どもを支援するプログラムの中で，患者同士の対話をもったならば，どのような対話の特徴があるのかを明らかにすることである．親子参加型のがん患者支援プログラムに参加した24名の母親同士の対話内容を研究データとし，質的帰納的分析を行った．分析の結果，対話の中で母親は，【がん・治療に伴う不安の表出と共有】【母親としての悩みの共有】【他者のがん理解に関する情報共有】【がん体験をプラスへ転換する気持ちの共有】を行っていた．子どもをもつがん患者同士が集まることで，治療や将来についての身体的な悩みのみならず，母親役割遂行上の悩み，子ども・家族や地域の人たちのがん疾患への理解の困難さ，同病者ならではの容姿に関する忌憚のない気持ちを表出し共有していた．子どもをもつという共通の環境にあるがん患者同士が語り合う機会をもったことで，母親としての悩みを互いに共有し，情緒的・情報的サポートの場として活かされていた．

　This study aimed to clarify the types of dialogues, if held, in support programs for cancer patients who also have children. The contents of dialogues among 24 mothers in the parent-child support program type were included as study data and qualitatively analyzed using an inductive approach. The results of the analysis revealed that through these dialogues, mothers expressed and shared their anxieties associated with cancer and its treatment. They also discussed their troubles as a mother, the understanding of cancer by others, and how to convert the cancer experience to a positive experience. By coming together, cancer patients with children expressed and shared their feelings without any reservations about the treatment and their apprehension of future, their troubles in executing their role as a mother, difficulty experienced by their children/family members and community members in understanding cancer, and their appearance in comparison with other patients affected by the same disease. Having an opportunity to converse with fellow cancer patients in the same circumstances helped them to mutually share their maternal concerns and provided them with a platform offering emotional and informational support.