title: Understanding the suffering of a patient with an illness: signs, context and strategies.
abstract: The aim of this study is to understand the suffering of a patient with an illness, by using a secondary research method, that is, a qualitative meta-study. The primary data source of the meta-study includes "biographical reports". This project is based on a case study, in which the first-hand experiences of a patient with an illness were collected. The findings of the reports were compiled using the Archivos de la Memoria collection of the Index Foundation (Granada, Spain) and journals specialized in editing these materials. A selection of 20 biographical reports was targeted. The results of the meta-study show that suffering is a multidimensional process within a framework of ambiguous feelings. The suffering involves family and social network participation. Patients develop a range of strategies to overcome the illness. One of the effects is the fear of illness relapse or worsening.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Enfermería, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Granada, Spain.
authors.forename: César
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hueso Montoro
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Siles González
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Amezcua
authors.forename: Candela
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bonill de Las Nieves
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pastor Montero
authors.forename: Miriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Celdrán Mañas
mesh_terms: D004194:Disease; D006801:Humans; D013315:Stress, Psychological