Women's Experiences Research Articles

"It Is What It Is" - The Lived Experience of Women With Breast Cancer Undergoing Axillary Lymph Node Dissection.

The lived experience of women undergoing axillary procedures as part of their breast cancer (BC) treatment remains unexplored. This lack of in-depth understanding could hamper implementation of person-centred care, which is concerning because BC is the most common form of cancer in women. The aim of this study was therefore to explore the lived experiences of women undergoing axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) due to BC. Twelve women with a mean age of 59 years were interviewed about their lived experiences of axillary procedures as part of their BC treatment. The interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analysed using a phenomenological hermeneutical method. This narrative method enabled the researchers to reinterpret the worlds of the women with BC, as reflected in the data. The naïve understanding, ie, the meaning of the text as a whole, revealed that the participants were in a process of accepting and adapting to their life after ALND involving adjuvant chemotherapy and/or hormonal therapy. Thus, six main themes emerged in the thematic structural analysis illustrating the meaning of acceptance and adaptation when suffering from BC and undergoing a treatment trajectory, ie, establishing coherence, adjusting to treatment, safeguarding social belonging, re-defining oneself, feeling vulnerable, and accepting one's circumstances. If healthcare professionals provided structure and consistency, the women's treatment and lived experiences made sense; the women experienced more certainty, freedom, and meaningful social interactions. Uncertainty occurred when the women became lost in their own sense-making process, leading to low self-efficacy. There is a need for a paradigm shift in surgical care from viewing women with BC as anatomical constructions in need of repair to deeply understanding that they are persons with an illness who require ongoing self-management support.

‘진지한 여가’로서 중년여성들의 ‘라인댄스 무용단’ 활동 경험

Objectives The purpose of this study is to explore the experiences of middle-aged women participating in the ‘Line Dance Dance Company’ as a form of serious leisure. Methods This study aimed to understand the value and significance of line dance group activities in participants' lives. It employed a qualitative case study approach, specifically using a descriptive case study method. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with participants involved in line dance group activities. A total of six cases were analyzed using repetitive comparative analysis methods to identify common themes and insights. The study provides a rich and detailed description of the meanings and values that participants derive from their involvement in these activities. Results First, the process of participating in line dance group activities was categorized into ‘glimpsing another world,’ ‘challenging: entering another world,’ ‘showing off oneself,’ and ‘re-challenging: entering another world.’ Through this process, the research participants' experiences can be interpreted as engaging in ‘serious leisure.’ Second, the meaning of the line dance group activity experience was derived as ‘discovering another version of oneself with passion and dedication,’ ‘expanding roles: being able to help,’ ‘restoring life subjectivity: living proactively for a wonderful self,’ and ‘happy life with a goal: preparing to be a wonderful grandmother.’ Conclusions Line dance company activities help participants discover their potential, enhance self-love, and maintain a positive perception of aging. In other words, these activities offer meaning and value beyond mere physical exercise, providing a serious and rewarding leisure experience. This study confirms that line dance group activities are valuable as they enable middle-aged women to anticipate their future with life subjectivity and goal setting. Therefore, programs that address various needs through group activities should be developed to serve as central points for middle-aged women's serious leisure activities.

Stories of women's marriage and fertility experiences:Qualitative research on urban and rural cases in Bali, Indonesia.

As a Hindu-majority province in Indonesia, Bali presents a unique and distinctive culture. Patrilocal ( purusa) marriage and patrilineal inheritance as a continuation of the patriarchal system puts a male in the key role of family representative and successor. Having a son is a priority for a married couple in Balinese society. As a consequence, Balinese women experience several constraints related to their economic productive, reproductive, and adat (ritual) roles. When a family does not have a male heir, their daughter is pressed to find a spouse willing to accept sentana (daughter succession) marriage. This secondary form of marriage brings another complication for Balinese-Hindu women and does not necessarily relieve their submissive position. This study analyzes Balinese-Hindu women's perspectives on their marriage experiences and fertility decisions in patrilineal society in changing rural and urban conditions. The data was collected in two areas representing rural (Gianyar) and urban (Denpasar) locations in Bali Province, Indonesia from November 2019 to February 2020. Primary data was based on in-depth interviews of six rural and six urban married Balinese-Hindu women. This qualitative inquiry into Balinese women's experience of the marriage system and fertility options in urban and rural Bali revealed varying degrees of social expectation to provide male descendants for their families. At the same time, economic burdens still haunted them in this development era and manifested conflicting implications for family size. Their stories of purusa and sentana marriage were complex because it has strongly associated with customary law ( adat) in traditional society. Paradoxically, this study found that it was predominantly rural women who opted for the sentana arrangement and expressed a preference for smaller family sizes. This study explores women's fertility aspirations, notably regarding son precedence. It problematizes the sentana marriage alternative as a potential solution to alleviate the expectations and burdens placed on women.

The Experiences of Women Transitioning from Unhoused to Housed in High-Income Countries: A Systematic Review and Meta-Aggregation

There are pathways in and out of homelessness that are gender-specific. However, little is known about the range of existing studies on the experiences of women who recently transitioned from homeless to housed in high-income countries. To date, no systematic reviews have brought together qualitative analyses from studies exploring women’s experiences who are re-housed in high-income countries. To fill this gap in existing literature, we performed a systematic review, utilizing the methods described by the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) (Lockwood et al., 2020) and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines (Moher et al., 2010) to understand the meaning and experience of women exiting homelessness in high-income countries. We combined the search terms related to women, homelessness, and housing transitions and deployed them in six databases. Our research yielded 3025 titles and abstracts following the removal of duplicates. After conducting a title and abstract screening, 91 full-text articles remained. 14 articles were deemed to meet pre-established inclusion criteria. Our meta-aggregation revealed four themes generated through our analysis: a) ongoing presence of trauma in women’s lives; b) healing through providing support to others; c) lack of control over circumstances that enable survival; and d) support in housing decreases marginalization. This review deepens knowledge of the current research priorities as well as practical policy and practice strategies that can be utilized to support recently rehoused women to prevent recurrent periods of homelessness and its devastating impacts.

Home in Han Suyin’s 'Till Morning Comes' from the Perspective of New Cultural Geography

Viewed through the lens of new cultural geography, a geographical landscape is a symbolic system showing the beliefs and values of society, as in the case of the home landscape. The article employs Mike Crang’s concepts of landscape and home to examine different homes in Han Suyin’s Till Morning Comes (1982). From leaving homes, searching for homes to returning homes, Stephanie, an American woman in diaspora, is exposed to different cultures, experiencing a sense of home in China, a sense of homelessness in both China and America, and a sense of being between worlds. In the process of searching for a home, Stephanie constructs her identity as a Chinese and eventually as a world citizen. The home in the novel is more than just a dwelling place; it is a place signifying cultural identity and a meaningful space that influences the identity transformation of a diasporic woman. The article therefore uses a textual analysis approach to explore how homes are represented and how a diasporic woman’s identity is affected by the home landscape she experiences in Till Morning Comes. This novel’s exploration of home illuminates the unique experience of a diasporic woman, highlighting the importance of re-evaluating Han’s work within the framework of contemporary cultural geography.

Experiences with healthcare navigation and bias among adult women with sickle cell disease: a qualitative study.

The purpose of this study was to use qualitative interviews to understand the experiences of adult women with sickle cell disease (SCD) through daily life and navigating the healthcare system. We conducted semi-structured interviews with reproductive-aged women with SCD and performed thematic analysis. We analyzed interviews from 20 participants. Our data demonstrated three overarching themes: perceptions of disease, transitions of care, and stigma and bias. Participants identified feelings of both empowerment and powerlessness from SCD that evolved over time and globally impacted their lives. The transition from pediatric to adult care was a vulnerable period, both surrounding changes in disease character and challenges transitioning healthcare systems. Finally, participants faced discrimination and prejudice within SCD care, which manifested as disvaluing of their own disease expertise or perpetuation of a "drug-seeking" stereotype. In the context of this bias, some participants prioritized seeking same-race providers. Experiences with SCD contribute significantly to daily quality of life in women with SCD, and ongoing care gaps exist in relation to their disease. Within our population, SCD as a physical and mental stressor requiring interdisciplinary support should not be underestimated. More robust systems to support the transition from pediatric to adult care are also necessary, both on a healthcare institution level and to support patients' engagement in their care. Finally, provider education and training on anti-racist practice and both recognizing and eliminating bias are essential to improving care of SCD patients. Possible interactions between sex, gender, and race in the experience of SCD warrant further exploration.

Cultural Practices of Mothers and Babies during the Postnatal Period: A Qualitative Study in Rural Bangladesh

This study describes the experiences of women in rural Bangladesh, and the cultural practices related to how they take care of themselves and their babies, in the early postnatal period. Data were gathered through immersion in the field for six months, participant observation, document collection and in-depth interview techniques to gain a deep understanding of women’s everyday lives and practices during the postnatal period. In-depth interviews were undertaken with 28 mothers who had had at least one live child within the five years before the date of data collection, in Purba Sharifabad village of the Barisal Division in Bangladesh. The key findings of this study highlight the role of culture in the experiences of women during the postnatal period, and reveal that cultural practices, beliefs and traditions are deeply embedded in the lives of rural women. This study focuses on cultural practices which have an effect on the choices of women regarding care and support from healthcare facilities. Culture, together with poverty and low levels of education, leads them to resist healthcare from a skilled birth attendant and encourages them to believe in and trust traditional care practices during the postnatal period. Therefore, the findings of this study may contribute to future policies, planning, programs and research in Bangladesh by providing an understanding of the importance of culturally and socially rooted traditional beliefs and cultural practices. These need to be addressed for maternal and newborn healthcare initiatives to be effective, particularly in rural Bangladesh.

Gender diversity and research productivity in accounting and finance at Australian and New Zealand HEIs

ABSTRACT This study has two main objectives. First, it refreshes investigations into research productivity within the accounting and finance domains across Australian and New Zealand higher education institutions from 2011 to 2022. Second, it reflects on affirmative action in Australia, arguing that its impact on women's experiences should extend beyond mere numerical measures. Analysing 48 top journals reveals a steady increase in research output with notable contributions from the University of New South Wales, Monash University, the University of Sydney, the University of Melbourne, and the University of Queensland. Authors with five or more publications rank in the top 5%, highlighting the difficulty of achieving prolific publishing. Significantly, gender diversity improved, with female authorship rising from 19.27% to 31.73%, indicating a shift towards more inclusive research environments. However, a persistent gender gap among highly published authors suggests ongoing challenges. The study also examines job mobility among top contributors, offering insights into career progression within the academic community. Overall, the findings provide new insights into research productivity, the impact of affirmative action on gender diversity, and career mobility within the academic field of accounting and finance..

International Prevalence of Technology-Facilitated Sexual Violence Against Women: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies.

The aim of the present review was to systematically identify and examine current knowledge regarding the frequency of any form of technology-facilitated sexual violence (TFSV) perpetrated against women aged 16 years and older. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses checklist was applied when performing the present review. Observational studies reporting prevalence data for any form of TFSV against women aged 16 years and above were considered for inclusion. Four meta-analyses were conducted. One examined data pertaining to overall TFSV, while the other three each addressed a key dimension based on the type of victimization under study. Random-effects models were used to compute pooled estimate prevalences (95% CI). Included studies reported prevalence in 32 different countries at different time points, with 28,220 women being interviewed (16-97 years). A total of 1,437 potential articles were gathered from 8 databases and 17 studies were selected for analysis. Included studies exhibited a low risk of bias (12 strong methodological quality-5 medium). Rates of TFSV ranged from 2.2% to 84%. Global estimated prevalence was 30.60% (95% CI [24.08, 37.12]). The most frequently reported behaviors pertained to "digital sexual harassment" (28.54%) followed by "technology-facilitated aggression and coercion" (16.93%) and "image-based sexual abuse" (6.48%). Present findings shed light on a significant gap in understanding the experiences of adult women. The wide range of reported frequencies underscores the importance of unifying terms and standardizing measurement instruments, emphasizing the need for a cohesive approach to better comprehend and address the multifaceted nature of TFSV.

Gender Differences in Climbing up the Ladder: Why Experience Closes the Ambition Gender Gap.

Women are unequally represented in the highest positions in society. Beyond discrimination and bias, women are missing from the top because they are less likely to pursue high-ranking opportunities. We propose that experience is a critical moderator of gender differences in pursuing leadership opportunities, with low-experience women being particularly unlikely to seek higher level positions. We used field analyses of 96 years of U.S. senator and governor elections to examine male and female politicians' propensity to run for higher political offices. As predicted, among those with little political experience, women were less likely than men to run for higher office, but experience closed this gender gap. A preregistered experiment among U.S.-based adults replicated the field findings and revealed that it was the increased self-confidence of experienced women that reduced the gender gap. The findings suggest experience, and the self-confidence that comes with it, is one lever for closing the gender gap in seeking to climb professional hierarchies.

Women Experience Higher Rates of Mortality Following Thoracic Endovascular Aneurysm Repair

ObjectivesThoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) and complex endovascular thoraco-abdominal aneurysm repair (cEVAR) has been increasingly adopted in the treatment of thoracic and thoracoabdominal aorta aneurysms, offering a less invasive approach for patients with appropriate anatomy. Women usually present with smaller aortic diameter. However, they usually have greater aneurysm growth rates. How sex can affect postoperative and short-term outcomes after TEVAR is not well reported. The aim of this study was to assess outcomes in female versus male patients undergoing TEVAR for treatment of thoracic and thoracoabdominal aneurysms in a Medicare-linked database. MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed patients undergoing TEVAR for thoracic and thoracoabdominal aneurysm repair in the Vascular Quality Initiative (VQI) Vascular Implant Surveillance and Interventional Outcomes Network (VISION) database from 2003 to 2018. Patients were divided into males and females. Patients presented with ruptured aneurysm were excluded from the analysis. Postoperative outcomes included in-hospital stroke, myocardial infarction (MI), spinal cord ischemia, and 30-day mortality. One-year outcomes included mortality, aneurysmal rupture, and reintervention. Postoperative outcomes were assessed using multivariable logistic regression analysis and one-year outcomes were evaluated using Kaplan Meier Survival and Cox regression analyses. ResultsA total of 3,058 males and 1,843 females were available for the analysis. Female patients had smaller median aortic diameter, were more likely to be black, with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and chronic kidney disease, and to be symptomatic on presentation. Male patients were more likely to be on preoperative medications such as aspirin, beta-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, P2Y12 antagonists, and anticoagulants. After adjusting for potential confounders, female gender was associated with double the risk of in-hospital stroke (OR: 2.3, 95%CI ((1.5-3.7), P<0.001) and 80% increase in 30-day mortality (OR: 1.8, 95%CI (1.3-2.6), P=0.001). At one year, female gender was associated with a higher risk of mortality (HR: 1.2, 95%CI (1.05-1.4), P=0.011). There was a trend towards higher risk of reintervention (HR: 1.2, 95%CI (0.97-1.6), P=0.079). ConclusionsMortality after TEVAR seems to be higher in female patients at 30 days and up to one year of follow-up. Female patients also face a two times higher risk of in-hospital stroke. Future studies with a larger female population should aim to identify and potentially ameliorate the factors associated with these unfavorable outcomes in females.

Women's Experience and Management of Cancer-Related Fatigue and Psychological Distress During Treatment for Gynaecological Cancer: A Qualitative Study.

To explore women's experience and management of cancer-related fatigue and psychological distress during treatment for gynaecological cancer. Qualitative descriptive study. Face-to-face semistructured individual interviews were conducted with 23 women in mainland China undergoing treatment for gynaecological cancer between July and October 2023. Data were analysed using content analysis. Three categories were identified: overwhelming experience of cancer-related fatigue, diverse experiences of psychological distress and strategies for managing cancer-related fatigue and psychological distress. Participants reported physical exhaustion and emotional fatigue, disrupting their normal lives. Psychological distress included distress due to cancer treatment, psychological burden associated with social relationships, frustration with being ill and worries about disease progression and recurrence. Strategies for managing symptoms were mainly nonpharmacological, with some unable to find suitable methods. This study found that participants had a complex experience of cancer-related fatigue and psychological distress, influenced by social expectations regarding women's roles and treatment impacts on reproductive health and femininity. These findings underscore the need for comprehensive interventions involving family members or fellow patients to reduce both symptoms. Nurses should focus on addressing cancer-related fatigue and psychological distress in women receiving treatment for gynaecological cancer, particularly in adolescents and young adults. It is essential to provide comprehensive care to improve their physical and psychological well-being. This study explored how women with gynaecological cancer experience and manage cancer-related fatigue and psychological distress. The findings highlight the need for holistic care that addresses physical and psychological symptoms. Nurses should consider the impact of reproductive health and femininity on symptom experiences and management. Furthermore, the findings could inform the development of evidence-based interventions to improve the physical and psychological well-being of women with gynaecological cancer. Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research checklist. No patient or public contribution.

Why DON'T We "Say Her Name"? An Intersectional Model of the Invisibility of Police Violence Against Black Women and Girls.

Racialized police violence is a profound form of systemic oppression affecting Black Americans, yet the narratives surrounding police brutality have disproportionately centered on Black men and boys, overshadowing the victimization of Black women and girls. In 2014, the #SayHerName campaign emerged to bring attention to the often-overlooked instances of police brutality against Black women and girls, including incidents of both nonsexual and sexual violence. Despite these efforts, mainstream discourse and psychological scholarship on police violence continue to marginalize the experiences of Black women and girls. This raises a critical question: Why DON'T we "Say Her Name"? This article employs intersectional frameworks to demonstrate how the historic and systemic factors that render Black women and girls particularly vulnerable to police violence also deny their legitimacy as victims, perpetuate their invisibility, and increase their susceptibility to state-sanctioned violence. We extend models of intersectional invisibility by arguing that ideologies related to age, in addition to racial and gender identities, contribute to their marginalization. Finally, we reflect on how psychological researchers can play a pivotal role in dismantling the invisibility of Black women and girls through scientific efforts and advocacy.

The journey of a living statue: Structural violence and a Honduran migrant woman's pathway toward asylum and wellbeing

Approximately half of the world's displaced migrant population are women, yet gender-specific analyses are often lacking. Such analyses are crucial for understanding migrant women's unique experiences and informing policies that address their health and broader needs. This paper integrates the concept of structural violence with person-centered ethnography to examine women's physical and mental health in contexts of displacement and migration. Using the triple trauma framework, we offer a holistic, temporal-spatial analysis of the health experiences and exposures faced by asylum-seeking women across three stages: places of origin, travel, and destination. Through the representative case of Anahi, a Honduran woman who fled to the US with her family in 2019, we identify four key themes: the persistence of structural violence and its constraints on health decisions and outcomes, the losses and suffering associated with women's triple roles, the harms of racism and xenophobia, and the health implications of inadequate information on asylum and immigration procedures. We conclude with policy recommendations to reduce health inequities among migrant women. This study advances understanding by providing a comprehensive, gendered analysis of the structural forces shaping health outcomes for migrant women, offering insights that extend beyond a narrow focus on reproductive issues to address their physical, mental, and social well-being.

Predictors of genital self-image in Iranian women: a cross-sectional study.

Several factors influence women's perception of their genitalia. Understanding the elements associated with genital self‑image (GSI) can significantly contribute to enhancing women's sexual experiences. Therefore, the present study aimed to identify the predictors of GSI in Iranian women. This online cross-sectional study was conducted on 722 healthy married reproductive-aged women with records in Amol-Iran health centers during 2022. Participants were selected using a random sampling method from all the healthcare centers. Data were collected through a checklist of socio-demographic and obstetrics information, the Female Genital Self-Image Scale (FGSI), the 6-item Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI-6), the Female Sexual Distress Scale - revised (FSDS-R), and the Multidimensional Sexual Self-Concept Questionnaire (MSSCQ) for assessing sexual esteem and sexual satisfaction. The general linear model was employed to assess the impact of each independent variable (socio-demographic and obstetrics characteristics, sexual function, sexual distress, sexual esteem, and sexual satisfaction) on the dependent variable (GSI). The mean score of GSI was 21.70 ± 3.82. Based on the Pearson correlation test, there were significant correlations between GSI and sexual function, sexual esteem, sexual satisfaction, and sexual distress (r = 0.20, r = 0.43, r = 0.42, r = -0.28 respectively; p < 0.001). Using the adjusted general linear model, with the increasing scores of sexual esteem and sexual satisfaction, the GSI score also increased (β = 0.19, 95% CI: 0.10 to 0.27, β = 0.14, 95% CI: 0.06 to 0.22, respectively; p < 0.001). Additionally, age, abnormal vaginal discharge, genital feedback from partners, and satisfaction with body image were identified as other predictors of GSI. Based on the study results, it was observed that sexual esteem, sexual satisfaction, and certain socio-demographic variables served as predictors of GSI. Consequently, considering the potential impact of GSI on various aspects of women's lives, healthcare providers can enhance their counseling techniques to improve GSI by gaining an appropriate understanding of the factors that influence it.

"I managed to stand on my own. I saved my baby's life.": qualitative analysis of birth experiences from women living with HIV in Cape Town, South Africa.

There is growing recognition of obstetric violence in health facilities across the globe. With nearly one in three pregnant women living with HIV in South Africa, it is important to consider the influence of HIV status on birth experiences, including potential experience of obstetric violence as defined by the Respectful Maternity Care Charter. This qualitative analysis aims to understand the factors that shape birth experiences of women living with HIV, including experiences at the nexus of HIV status and obstetric violence, and how women react to these factors. Data were collected in a Midwife Obstetric Unit in Gugulethu, Cape Town, South Africa, through 26 in-depth interviews with women living with HIV at 6-8weeks postpartum. Interviews included questions about labor and early motherhood, ART adherence, and social contexts. We combined template style thematic analysis and matrix analysis to refine themes and subthemes. Participants described a range of social and structural factors they felt influenced their birth experiences, including lack of resources and institutional policies. While some participants described positive interactions with healthcare providers, several described instances of obstetric violence, including being ignored and denied care. Nearly all participants, even those who described instances of obstetric violence, described themselves as strong and independent during their birth experiences. Participants reacted to birth experiences by shifting their family planning intentions, forming attitudes toward the health facility, and taking responsibility for their own and their babies' safety during birth. Narratives of negative birth experiences among some women living with HIV reveal a constellation of factors that produce obstetric violence, reflective of social hierarchies and networks of power relations. Participant accounts indicate the need for future research explicitly examining how structural vulnerability shapes birth experiences for women living with HIV in South Africa. These birth stories should also guide future intervention and advocacy work, sparking initiatives to advance compassionate maternity care across health facilities in South Africa, with relevance for other comparable settings.

The Spatial Geographies of Women Urban Runners

ABSTRACT Taking the northern suburbs of Melbourne, Australia, as a case study, we researched the running experiences of women through a feminist geography lens. Interviews with runners informed the design and interpretation of a spatial analysis of women’s running patterns in Strava Metro data. Our study showed how women runners are limited in where they run, and illuminated features of urban environments that can contribute to gendered limitations running women experience. Our approach took us beyond critiques of park management (e.g. lighting, toilets, trail surface), to eventually form findings about how urban form influences the spatial geographies of women runners. HIGHLIGHTS Women restrict where they run alone more than men do because of fear of being attacked by a man, avoiding isolated places in particular. Running is an activity in which women can feel at their most vulnerable in urban public space, as they are often alone, outside beyond daylight hours, and are seeking soft surfaced paths away from motor traffic, places where real-life passive surveillance is usually lower. Gendered differences in the use of urban space by runners can be observed in Strava Metro data. A key feature of women’s running route decision-making is that women will avoid and seek certain places based on how many other people they expect to be present there. Women runners benefit from urban forms which encourage high pedestrian activity, including medium-high urban density and pedestrian prioritised links to greenspaces that are separated from key traffic routes.

An insurmountable obstacle: Experiences of Chinese women undergoing in vitro fertilization.

This study aimed to explore the perceptions of women who have undergone unsuccessful in vitro fertilization (IVF) in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China, and to explore how treatment failure has impacted their lives and relationships, thereby enabling the public to understand the unique experiences of these women. A descriptive qualitative approach was employed, with purposive sampling used to recruit participants from the gynecological department of a traditional Chinese medicine clinic at a large tertiary hospital in Zhejiang province. Twelve women undergoing IVF treatment was involved in the study. Data were collected through face-to-face semi-structured interviews, which were transcribed verbatim. Conventional content analysis methods were used to analyze the data. Following analysis, three main categories emerged: 1) The Psychological Experience of Initial Miscarriage from IVF Treatment, 2) The Psychological Experience of Repeated Treatment Failure, and 3) Interpersonal experiences and challenges. Women experiencing initial failure from IVF treatment reported emotions such as surprise, doubt, sadness, disappointment, and embarrassment. They perceived the process as harder than expected, leading to unexpected daily life challenges and difficulties in achieving success. As unsuccessful attempts persisted, they endured psychological suffering and lived in the shadow of repeated treatment failures. Doubts, perplexity, and anxiety grew, making reproduction seem like an insurmountable obstacle in their lives. In their interpersonal experience, women often felt guilt toward family, faced social isolation, and found it challenging to discuss IVF openly everywhere. They encountered a lack of understanding from others but also found mutual sympathy and support among people who shared similar experiences. The study provided an insight into the suffering of Chinese women undergoing IVF treatment, highlighting the challenges of overcoming treatment failures. The findings not only inform Chinese infertile women considering IVF treatment but also contribute to the development of more effective support services by healthcare providers.

'Balancing Challenges and Personal Resources': A Qualitative Study of Women's Experiences of Arm Impairment After Axillary Surgery for Breast Cancer.

To explore how women previously treated for breast cancer experience living with arm impairment after axillary surgery. Descriptive qualitative study. The inductive starting point for the analysis was followed by a deductive approach as the categories were related to the components of the sense of coherence framework. Twenty-eight relapse-free Swedish-speaking females participated in six focus group discussions conducted between September and December 2022. All participants had undergone sentinel lymph node biopsy with or without completion axillary dissection4 years earlier. Data were analysed using qualitative content analysis. Three categories and an overall theme were identified. The categories 'Sense-making', 'Daily life' and 'Driving force' reflect actions to understand and prevent arm symptoms, adaptations made in daily life and the empowering resources adopted to meet challenges. The overall theme, 'Balancing challenges and personal resources', comprised a process that began at diagnosis and remained ongoing for some participants. Most participants considered their new life situations manageable. However, those with more pronounced arm impairment reported that they did not always receive adequate aid, and that their daily lives were negatively affected. Returning to everyday life after axillary surgery for breast cancer is associated with varying degrees of challenges. Individuals with persistent arm impairment find returning to normal life more challenging. Therefore, further improvements in person-centred care are of utmost importance. Members of the Swedish Breast Cancer Association were involved in the creation of the interview guide. This study emphasises the requirement for providing further individualised support to those living with more severe arm impairment after axillary surgery. This study was reported in accordance with the Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research.

Lived Experience of Postpartum Women in Recovery for Opioid Use Disorder on Medication-Assisted Therapy

Abstract Purpose: The purpose of this study was to understand the lived experiences of postpartum women on medication-assisted therapy for opioid use disorder. Study Design and Methods: van Manen's interpretive hermeneutic phenomenological design was used. Recruitment and data collection from seven participants occurred at an outpatient office offering care for perinatal patients on medication-assisted therapy for opioid use disorder. Data collection occurred between September 2021 and March 2022 via in-person interviews using a demographic data sheet, interview guide, speech recognition software, and digital recordings. Demographic data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Qualitative data were analyzed using precoding, coding, and thematic analysis via van Manen's interpretive hermeneutic phenomenological method. Results: Seven themes were identified: troubled origins, used opioids to deal with life issues, needed to be self-reliant, opioid use disorder overtook their life, the baby was a motivator to seek treatment, the need for combined medication-assisted therapy and collaborative care, and hope for a better life. Clinical Nursing Implications: Nurses can provide trauma-informed care, support the importance of medication-assisted therapy in recovery, incorporate a collaborative care team with expertise in postpartum opioid use disorder, continue the collaborative care team for a minimum of 1 year, and advocate for the patient's role as parent.