An investigation based on HBM: cognitive of breast cancer patients about emotional disclosure

Abstract

Objective To understand the tendency of negative emotional expression and its cognitive influencing factors in breast cancer survivors in China, in order to provide evidence for emotional expression intervention. Methods The qualitative research based on the health belief model (HBM) was adopted. In-depth interviews were conducted with 21 breast cancer survivors. Data were analyzed by content analysis method. Results Among 21 people interviewed, 4 were emotionally expressed and 17 were emotionally suppressed. Aware of the negative emotions, recognize the seriousness of emotional depression, the benefits of emotional expression, the less obstacles of expression and the sense of self-efficacy can promote the occurrence of emotional expression. Conclusions Chinese breast cancer survivors are not good at expressing their negative emotions.Health care workers can change the behavior of patients through the aware of the negative emotions, recognize the seriousness of emotional depression,the benefits of emotional expression,the obstacles of expression and the sense of self-efficacy. Key words: Breast neoplasm; Emotion expression; HBM; Qualitative research