title: Coping with stigma: the experiences of Chinese patients living with lung cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the experiences of stigma and coping strategies among patients with lung cancer in China.
  
  
  METHODS
  Qualitative.
  
  
  METHODS
  The oncology department at Liaocheng Peoples Hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  A purposive sample of 17 patients experiencing stigma related to lung cancer voluntarily participated in data collection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Individual, semistructured qualitative interviews were chosen. Participants completed about a 30-min focused interview. Exploratory qualitative approach guided data analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three main thematic elements emerged from the interview data:(1) sources of stigma, such as smoking, decreased ability to work, difficulties caring for self and family, damage to self-image, and cough and expectoration; (2) experiences of stigma, including feelings of stigma, remorse, loss of dignity, uselessness, social isolation, perceived exclusion, rejection, and discrimination; and (3) coping strategies, such as concealing the fact of sickness, reducing social activities, seeking medical assistance, adhering to treatment, and disclosing dissatisfaction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results indicate the presence of perceived stigma among patients with lung cancer. Future work should address the stigma associated with lung cancer and its related factors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As point-of-care providers, staff nurses are well positioned to develop effective interventions to help patients deal with stigma and to accomplish the goal of providing holistic nursing care.
authors: School of Nursing, Taishan Medical University, Tai'an, Shandong China.
authors: Huaxia
authors: H
authors: Liu
authors: School of Nursing, Taishan Medical University, Tai'an, Shandong China.
authors: Qianqian
authors: Q
authors: Yang
authors: University of South Carolina College of Nursing, Columbia, SC USA.
authors: Georgia L
authors: GL
authors: Narsavage
authors: Nursing Department of Liaocheng People's Hospital, Liaocheng, Shandong China.
authors: Chunling
authors: C
authors: Yang
authors: School of Nursing, Taishan Medical University, Tai'an, Shandong China.
authors: Yue
authors: Y
authors: Chen
authors: Oncology Department of Liaocheng People's Hospital, Liaocheng, Shandong China.
authors: Guiying
authors: G
authors: Xu
authors: School of Nursing, Taishan Medical University, Tai'an, Shandong China.
authors: Xia
authors: X
authors: Wu