title: Lived Experiences of "Illness Uncertainty" of Iranian Cancer Patients: A Phenomenological Hermeneutic Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  For cancer patients, uncertainty is a pervasive experience and a major psychological stressor that affects many aspects of their lives. Uncertainty is a multifaceted concept, and its understanding for patients depends on many factors, including factors associated with various sociocultural contexts. Unfortunately, little is known about the concept of uncertainty in Iranian society and culture.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to clarify the concept and explain lived experiences of illness uncertainty in Iranian cancer patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this hermeneutic phenomenological study, 8 cancer patients participated in semistructured in-depth interviews about their experiences of uncertainty in illness. Interviews continued until data saturation was reached. All interviews were recorded, transcribed, analyzed, and interpreted using 6 stages of the van Manen phenomenological approach.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seven main themes emerged from patients' experiences of illness uncertainty of cancer. Four themes contributed to uncertainty including "Complexity of Cancer," "Confusion About Cancer," "Contradictory Information," and "Unknown Future." Two themes facilitated coping with uncertainty including "Seeking Knowledge" and "Need for Spiritual Peace." One theme, "Knowledge Ambivalence," revealed the struggle between wanting to know and not wanting to know, especially if bad news was delivered.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Uncertainty experience for cancer patients in different societies is largely similar. However, some experiences (eg, ambiguity in access to medical resources) seemed unique to Iranian patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study provided an outlook of cancer patients' experiences of illness uncertainty in Iran. Cancer patients' coping ability to deal with uncertainty can be improved.
authors.affiliation: Author Affiliations: Department of Medical-Surgical Nursing, Faculty of Nursing & Midwifery, Social Development & Health Promotion Research Centre, Gonabad University of Medical Sciences, Iran (Dr Sajjadi); and School of Nursing and Midwifery, Department of Nursing (Drs Rassouli and Abbaszadeh), and School of Paramedical Sciences, Department of Biostatistics (Dr Alavi Majd), Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; and Billings Clinic, Montana (Dr Brant).
authors.forename: Moosa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sajjadi
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rassouli
authors.forename: Abbas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abbaszadeh
authors.forename: Jeannine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brant
authors.forename: Hamid Alavi
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Majd
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017281:Cost of Illness; D005260:Female; D066297:Hermeneutics; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D035501:Uncertainty