The use of humor and its influences on spirituality and coping in breast cancer survivors.
OBJECTIVE
To describe patients' perspectives concerning the use of humor in their care and recovery.


METHODS
Descriptive.


METHODS
Community-based.


METHODS
Nine women with a diagnosis of breast cancer.


METHODS
Open-ended interviews were conducted with participants to identify their use of humor, its influence on spirituality, and their perceptions of how nurses use humor in caring for them during their treatment for breast cancer.


METHODS
The use of humor as a coping skill.


RESULTS
The narrative data revealed three major categories, each with five to six themes illuminating humor as a coping factor, the relationship between humor and nursing, and the relationship between humor and spirituality.


CONCLUSIONS
Participants identified humor as an important coping factor. They also believed it played a role in their spirituality and their perception of the meaning and purpose of life. Nurses' use of humor is important to foster deeper, more trusting relationships with patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Humor must be recognized as an element of spiritual coping in patients with breast cancer. A need exists for further education for nurses concerning the importance of humor in the care of patients to promote recovery and improve the nurse-patient relationship. Research is needed to explore the use of cultural influences on humor, family perspectives of humor, and the influences of the overall environment.
Johnson
Paige
P
Department of Breast Medical Oncology, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer center, Houston, TX, USA. paigejohnsonnp@hotmail.com
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D013140:Spiritualism; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*; D014925:Wit and Humor as Topic