Adaptation of patients diagnosed with human papillomavirus: a grounded theory study

Narjes Nick,Roksana Janghorban,Camellia Torabizadeh,Mehdi Ghahartars

doi:10.1186/s12978-021-01264-y

Narjes Nick, Roksana Janghorban + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12978-021-01264-y

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Abstract

BackgroundHuman papillomavirus is the most common cause of sexually transmitted diseases. Various studies report that positive human papillomavirus diagnosis results in psychosexual issues for the infected and reduces their quality of life. However, the adaptation of the infected has not been addressed yet. The present study aims to identify the process by which individuals infected with human papillomavirus adapt to their disease.MethodThis is a qualitative work of research with a grounded theory design. The setting of the study was the skin clinic of Shahid Faghihi Hospital in Shiraz. The participants consisted of 27 individuals: 18 patients, 3 doctors, 2 counselors, and 4 spouses of patients. The subjects were selected via purposeful and theoretical sampling method until data saturation was reached. Data were collected through face-to-face, in-depth, semi-structured interviews from April 2019 to December 2020. The collected data were analyzed using Corbin and Strauss’s method (2015) and MAXQDA 2018.ResultsThe theory which emerged from the data was “trying to maintain resilience in the absence of psychological security.” Analysis of data showed the main concern of participants in adapting to their diagnosis with human papillomavirus was “life stress”. “Stigma and ignorance” was found to be a contextual condition and “paradox in support” was an intervening condition in the patients’ adaptation. The patients’ action/interaction responses to their main concern in the context in question were “emotional confrontation” and “maintaining resilience.” The outcome was “oscillation between tension and tranquility.”ConclusionThe present study explains the process by which patients with human papillomavirus adapt to their condition. Identification of the concerns of patients with human papillomavirus and the factors which affect their adaptation can help healthcare policy-makers and providers develop effective support plans in order to increase patients’ quality of life. Early interventions, e.g. counseling care providers to modify their behaviors toward alleviating the psychosexual tension of the infected, can facilitate the adaptation of the infected and decrease the consequences of the infection for them.Graphical

Highlights

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common cause of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)
E.g. counseling care providers to modify their behaviors toward alleviating the psychosexual tension of the infected, can facilitate the adaptation of the infected and decrease the consequences of the infection for them
The high-risk types of HPV account for about 5% of cancer cases globally

Summary

Introduction

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common cause of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Almost all men and women get the infection at least once throughout their lives [1]. Adaptation to the disease is a complex, dynamic, periodic, and interactive process. This process is influenced by a variety of factors, including one’s coping strategies, personal characteristics, values, beliefs, and life experiences [3, 4], as well as the characteristics of the infection, underlying factors, and social support, all of which are interrelated [5, 6]. Human papillomavirus is the most common cause of sexually transmitted diseases. The present study aims to identify the process by which individuals infected with human papillomavirus adapt to their disease

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