title: Coping with melanoma-related worry: a qualitative study of the experiences and support needs of patients with malignant melanoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the patients' experience of having malignant melanoma, their related support needs and the processes that lead to these needs being met.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The number of patients attending surveillance clinics after a diagnosis of malignant melanoma is increasing. In the UK specialist nurses provide support to patients, but little evidence exists about the nature of patients' support needs or their experience of having melanoma. Melanoma has often been researched within general cancer studies, yet the support needs of melanoma patients may be different from those of patients with other skin cancers or tumour types.
  
  
  METHODS
  A Grounded Theory Approach was used to guide sampling, data collection and analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  In-depth interviews were conducted with eleven patients who where purposively sampled. Transcripts were read several times, coded and categorised using the constant comparative method. Emergent categories were discussed with participants.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three emergent categories related to a core category of melanoma-related worry which formed a substantive theory about the strategies patients use to control this. Participants reported needing to have their concerns believed by others prior to and after diagnosis. They discussed discerning whom to share their concerns with depending upon who they felt would not perceive assisting them as being burdensome. They also sought ways to reassure themselves.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients need to have their fear and worries acknowledged by others. This includes nurses, healthcare professionals and family members. Patients will also use self-examination and the absence of symptoms to reassure themselves.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nurses play key roles throughout the patient's care; therefore they need to be sensitive to the fact that patients may consider them a primary source of support. When teaching self-examination it is important that nurses discuss that this may ease worry and aid coping.
authors: Academic Unit of Clinical Oncology, Weston Park Hopsital, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.
authors: Joanne
authors: J
authors: Bird
authors: Patricia
authors: P
authors: Coleman
authors: Sarah
authors: S
authors: Danson
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012878:Skin Neoplasms; D012944:Social Support; D000096142:Cutaneous Malignant Melanoma
keywords: clinical nurse specialist; melanoma; supportive care