title: [Phenomenology on the lived experience of Korean women with spinal cord injuries].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of the study was to understand and explain the essences and structures of the experience of Korean women who have had a spinal cord injury.
  
  
  METHODS
  The data were collected in 2010 through individual in-depth interviews using open-ended questions. A total of 9 women with spinal cord injuries participated in the study. Each interview lasted about 2 hours. Verbatim transcripts were analyzed using phenomenological analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five theme clusters emerged from the analysis using Colaizzi's method: frozen mind with rigid body; shame due to restrictions of physical function and dependency; struggle to go back to the previous normal body; disabilities that are noticeable in everyday family life; rebirth by discarding the obsessions of the past. These theme clusters illustrate that although most participants faced very strange and unbearable situations in most aspects of life after the injury, they were empowered finally by finding their hope and by giving new meanings to the current existence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study provides deep understanding of women with spinal cord injuries who are relatively alienated from society. Based on the results of the study, health professionals could develop effective nursing interventions to improve quality of life of these women.
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea. teddyhm@snu.ac.kr
authors.forename: Hye Min
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Myungsun
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yi
authors.forename: Eun Young
authors.initials: EY
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Eun Jin
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Kwon
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008875:Middle Aged; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011788:Quality of Life; D056910:Republic of Korea; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires