Phenomenological Hermeneutic Method Research Articles

Teachers’ Perspectives on the Effectiveness of Moral Strategies for Character Formation in Public Secondary Schools in Kakamega County, Kenya

Philosophers and educationists contend that education plays a critical role in inculcating learners with moral values for character formation. Moral education for character formation is not an issue of personal choice but fundamental to society in promoting economic growth, prosperity, and order. However, there are a number of problems that hinder the process of reaching the identified ideal of character formation. Some of the challenges are associated curriculum content and the strategies applied by teachers. In school moral education for character formation is promoted through the teaching of subjects such as Christian Religious Education, Hindu Religious Education, or Islamic Religious Education, however they are exam or Cognitive oriented. This is manifested in unacceptable behaviors that are exhibited by students such as school arson, drugs and substance abuse, obscene behavior, and exploitation of school and other public resources. Therefore, this article sought to investigate teachers’ perspectives on the effectiveness of moral strategies for character formation in public secondary schools in Kakamega County, Kenya. Phenomenological theory guided this study. On the other hand, phenomenological hermeneutical method was applied in the study. The study employed a descriptive phenomenological research design to explore teachers' perceptions of moral education strategies for character formation in public secondary schools in Kakamega County, Kenya. This design was chosen because it enables the researcher gain insight into participants' lived experiences of a phenomenon without prejudices and preconceptions. It utilized an interpretive paradigm to understand teachers' perceptions of their social realities, focusing on subjective experiences and perspectives related to moral education. Purposive sampling was used to recruit 15 participants from seven public secondary schools. Unstructured interviews were employed to collect the data. The data collected was analyzed thematically using Braun and Clarke's six steps. The study established that there was mixed reaction on the effectiveness of strategies used in moral education for character formation. The minority of the participants observed that all the strategies were ineffective, while the majority indicated that guidance and counseling although less proactive, is the best strategy for moral education for character formation. The few who mentioned punishment indicated that it was the best method, although illegal and illicit in the current Kenyan schooling context. The study concluded that moral education strategies in public secondary schools in Kakakmega county, Kenya are largely ineffective, with only a few approaches like class meetings, student leadership, and clubs fostering deeper student engagement. Most strategies are implemented reactively and lack consistent emphasis, limiting their impact on character formation. To improve effectiveness, a more proactive approach and better implementation mechanisms are needed. The study recommends that teachers in Kakamega County be trained to use multiple moral strategies that require extensive student participation and include practical and reflective methods to promote character education. Moreover, moral education should be an integrated approach to ensure that students receive ethical education in many areas of learning to strengthen their morality in applying moral education in many facets of their learning.

"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.

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.

Nurturing ethical insight: exploring nursing students’ journey to ethical competence

BackgroundEthical competence is a key competence in nursing and the development of the competence is a central part in nursing education. During clinical studies, nursing students face ethical problems that require them to apply and develop their ethical knowledge and skills. Little is known about how ethical competence evolves during students’ initial clinical placements. This study explored the development of ethical competence in first-year nursing students during their first clinical placements in nursing homes.MethodsThis exploratory-descriptive qualitative study used focus group interviews to collect data and a phenomenological hermeneutical method for analysis. Twenty-eight first-year nursing students participated in six focus groups. The data were collected between March and April 2024 at Oslo Metropolitan University in Norway.ResultsThe naïve reading of the data involved an awareness of the students applying their prior knowledge, modifying their prior knowledge and developing skills that allowed them to manoeuvre ethical practices that, in some cases, appeared excellent and, in other cases, grim. The structural analysis identified three themes: (i) ethical competence forges in practice, (ii) ethical competence evolves at the intersection of knowledge and skills and (iii) ethical competence unfolds through meaningful discussions. A comprehensive understanding of the data was formulated as ‘Being on a journey towards ethical competence’. This presents a metaphor illustrating that nursing students embark on a journey towards ethical competence; from their point of departure, their clinical experiences forge the essential waypoints along their path, knowledge and skills fuelling their navigation in rugged terrain towards their destination.ConclusionsNursing students’ ethical competence evolved in intricate ways during their initial clinical period. Being informed bystanders or participants in the care of nursing home residents in situations of ethical tension may be a unique position enabling students to evaluate care options differently from those immersed in the ward culture. The findings indicate that organised professional development in nursing homes needs to focus on more reflexively driven ways of supervising students in their first clinical study period. Educational institutions need to continue and further develop reflection-based learning activities and meeting points with students and their peers during their clinical placement periods.

Reflection tools – support for patient learning in group education

ABSTRACT This qualitative study describes how reflection can be supported by using reflective tools in group education in type 2 diabetes. The changed conditions for living with a long-term illness may lead to increased anxiety and new demands that affect one’s current life situation. The didactic model, ‘The challenge – to take charge of one’s life with long-term illness’, has been developed into ‘Taking responsibility in life with type 2 diabetes – a model for group education in primary care’. Specialized diabetes nurses and dieticians received training, a manual and continuous guidance in applying the model. Reflection diaries, notes and interviews both from the patients and the caregivers were analyzed using a phenomenological hermeneutic method. The results show that using images as reflective tools engages thoughts and feelings in a way that appears to be important for one’s learning in life with a chronic illness. The images contribute to allowing a distance from one’s situation, actions, thoughts and feelings, which seems fruitful for investigating and discovering new ‘things’ about oneself. With the support of reflective tools and guiding questions, reflection is led to a deeper existential level where both caregivers and patients contribute by asking questions that support the reflection process.

Exploring the genuine psychological experiences of novice nurses at emergency resuscitation events: A qualitative interview study

PurposeAn emergency rescue situation is an inevitable challenge in medical work, requiring collaborative efforts from healthcare professionals. Due to a lack of practical experience, novice nurses may encounter difficulties in successfully managing emergency resuscitation events. This study aimed to analyse the authentic psychological experiences of novice nurses participating in emergency resuscitation events by exploring applicable coping methods and management strategies. MethodsThis study utilized a hermeneutic phenomenological qualitative research method. We employed purposive sampling to select 27 Novice nurses from West China Hospital of Sichuan University for face-to-face semistructured interviews. Data collection for this study was conducted from November 2023 to January 2024. The interviews were fully audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. The data were coded, categorized and summarized with the help of Nvivo 20.0 software based on the interpretation of phenomenological research methods. Thematic analysis was performed to deeply analyse and extract corresponding themes. The COREQ criteria were used to guide the reporting of this study. ResultsThe authentic psychological experiences of novice nurses participating in emergency rescue events mainly include six aspects: lack of rescue knowledge reserves and related abilities, psychological and emotional changes, psychological stress after the rescue, rational arrangement of manpower, team cooperation, and postevent reflection and learning. Their authentic psychological experiences directly affect whether novice nurses can effectively respond to emergency rescue events. ConclusionsThis study suggested enhancing novice nurses' knowledge, improving their resuscitation skills, and improving their psychological well-being during resuscitation events. It advocates for organized staffing, effective teamwork, and robust support systems to empower novice nurses and improve their overall capabilities in emergencies. These findings offer valuable insights for future research in this area.

The meaning of being conscious during surgery with local or regional anesthesia–A phenomenological hermeneutic study

BackgroundWith increasing prevalence of surgery under local or regional anesthesia, which allows patients to remain conscious during the intraoperative phase, there is a growing need to comprehend the lived experiences associated with this practice. ObjectiveThis study aimed to illuminate the lived experiences of individuals who remained conscious during surgical intervention under local or regional anesthesia. DesignA qualitative design was chosen. Setting(s)Participants in the present study were recruited from three surgical wards located in central Sweden using a purposive sampling strategy. The surgical disciplines included ear, gynecological, hernioplasty, orthopedic, and vessel surgeries. ParticipantsFourteen narrative interviews were conducted with individuals who had undergone elective surgery while conscious. MethodsVerbatim transcribed text was analyzed using a phenomenological-hermeneutic method. ResultsThe lived experience of being conscious during surgery was marked by feelings of hope alongside a sense of losing one's identity and experiencing destabilization. Structural analysis revealed two themes. The first theme, 'being in the hands of others', encompassed subthemes such as 'entering an unfamiliar environment and procedure,' 'losing foothold and a sense of self-identity,' and 'enduring unexpected or anticipated discomfort.' The second theme, 'managing the inevitable for future health concerns,' involved subthemes such as 'pursuing self-acceptance of the situation,' 'entrusting the professionals while seeking signs of a smooth procedure,' and 'Enhancing own resilience through continuous support. ConclusionsBeyond the patient's physical well-being during surgery, the OR team should acknowledge the "person" component and focus on their emotional and social needs in this vulnerable situation. The four meta-paradigms of nursing—person, health, environment, and nursing—significantly influence the conscious patient's experience. Patient or Public ContributionNo patient or public contribution

“An intruder body”. Antidiscrimination law and the justiciability of the economic, social and cultural rights in the Inter-American Court of Human Rights: an analysis based on the Case of Guevara Díaz vs. Costa Rica

This article aims to analyze the Case of Guevara Díaz vs. Costa Rica, judged in June 2022 by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, especially about Anti-Discrimination Law. The precedent innovates by establishing the normative force of the principle of progressive development provided for in article 26 of the American Convention on Human Rights (ACHR), understood, at least until then, as a mere interpretative principle of the ACHR. The decision also deserves to be highlighted due to the adoption of Anti-Discrimination Law as a backdrop to enable the direct justiciability of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (DESCA). In terms of methodology, the research is carried out based on a critical-reflexive review of the topics covered and the use of the hermeneutic phenomenology method.

놀이중심 부모코칭 프로그램에 참여한 발달지체유아 부모의 경험과 의미

The purpose of this study is to explore the experiences and meanings of parents of children with developmental delays who participated in the play-oriented parent coaching program, and based on this, to search for directions and strategies for the parent coaching program. As a result of observing and interviewing seven parents who participated in parent coaching and analyzing them using a hermeneutic phenomenological method, it was found that parents experienced ‘accepting unfamiliar programs’, ‘revealing the difficulties of being a parent of a child with developmental delays’, and ‘seeing my child as he is, not as a disabled child’. As a result of reinterpreting these parental experiences, the meanings of 'looking inside yourself', ‘acquiring play skills’, ‘internalizing new parenting styles’ were revealed. This study is meaningful in that it is a strategy for effective parent coaching program operation, participating in actual play with parents of children with developmental delays and their children, focusing on the development and happiness of children, coaching teachers through positive interactions, and suggesting individual customized coaching using cooperative faculty.

Contextual influences on knowledge translation capacity in a nursing home organisation: A phenomenological hermeneutical study.

The demand for advanced clinical care in nursing homes (NHs) is increasing. Evidence-based practices and knowledge translation (KT) initiatives are growing to bridge the gap between what is known and what is done. However, research on contextual influence on KT has primarily focused on hospital settings. To expand our understanding of contextual influences on KT capacity in a NH organisation. Lindseth and Norberg's phenomenological hermeneutical method was used to explore and describe practice development nurses' experiences, perspectives and practices regarding how contextual factors influence KT capacity in NHs. Focus group interviews, participant observations, in-depth interviews and non-participant observations provided the data. Two main themes and four subthemes were identified. (1) Continuous limited resources are a cultural condition that inhibits KT readiness; prioritising keeping the NH machinery running at all costs and having contrasting care philosophies undermines KT. (2) Organisational prioritisations leave KT as a missing cogwheel in the machinery; retaining a system of fragmented KT strategies and lacking a structure for collective KT effort. The study showed that KT held a minor role in the fast-paced NH machinery. Contradicting values characterise the NH organisation, resulting in a lack of a common vision and priorities. Building a sustainable KT capacity and providing evidence-based practice necessitates explicit responsibilities, dedicated resources and robust organisational support. Management has a critical role in strengthening the position of KT. Incorporating KT in daily NH practice can help staff become adaptable and confident, capable of meeting the increasing challenges of advanced care that alleviates suffering and promote the health and well-being of NH patients.

Determinants of physical activity habit formation: a theory-based qualitative study among young adults

ABSTRACT Purpose Engagement in physical activity significantly contributes to reducing the onset and severity of chronic diseases. Nonetheless, establishing habits around this behaviour remains a persistent challenge. This research endeavours to discern the determinants influencing the formation of physical activity habit among young adults in Israel, drawing upon a socio-ecological model. Methods A qualitative approach with phenomenological-hermeneutical method was used. In-depth interviews were carried to cover four levels of the socio-ecological model. Results Interviewees were categorized into three subgroups according to their physical activity habit strength: Habitually physically active (n = 8), Variably physically active (n = 11), and physically inactive (n = 6). The content analysis yielded four overarching themes associated with physical activity habit formation. Intrapersonal determinants encompassed personal traits, perceptions and attitudes, perceived benefits, and emotional responses related to physical activity. Interpersonal determinants encompassed social support, modelling support, and peer pressure. Community determinants pertained to social norms, resource availability, and accessibility. Finally, public policy considerations encompassed educational policies as well as workplace policies and cultural influences. Conclusions This study highlights the unique determinants contributing to the formation of physical activity habit. As intrapersonal and interpersonal factors are significant determinants, interventions should focus on these elements in order to promote this behaviour among young adults.

Relevance of Embodied Practice to Philosophical Understanding

In this paper I argue that meditation has a direct bearing upon philosophical discourse by enabling us to distance ourselves from the basic structure of subjectivity that often limits the scope of reason. Recent neurobiological hypotheses are discussed in conjunction with the method of hermeneutic phenomenology to argue that interpretations on the level of our neurobiology underly and construct our experience of ourselves as subjects and the sense of explicit rational understanding that arises from it. This implies that prediscursive embodied practice can play a crucial role in freeing our philosophical understanding from implicit assumptions.

Lived Experiences of Faculty with Disabilities in Higher Education: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Method

The number of faculty members with disabilities has increased nowadays in the university because of the inclusive recruitment policy. The faculties with disabilities still struggle with the disable-unfriendly environments in universities, and they are excluded from the research fields in Nepal although there are some research done on school children with disabilities and people with disabilities in family and society. University faculty members with disabilities need to be studied in order to truly address the real-life problems. This study explores the lived experiences of faculty members with disabilities perceived at Tribhuvan University, Nepal. A hermeneutic phenomenological research method within qualitative approach was exploited. Purposive sampling technique was used to select five teachers with disabilities in the study. Disability studies theory was used as a theoretical tool. The major findings are that the disabled faculty encountered mainly infrastructure/physical structure barriers, university policy and practice barriers, the university executives’ (un)conscious/ (un)intentional ignorance and attitude barriers in the campuses. The teachers with vision impairment and motor impairment endured through difficulty of disable-unfriendly physical structures, university policy and practices. The findings mean the university environments were unfriendly, hostile and adverse to the disabled faculty. This study may motivate the executives to modify the policy, practices and attitudes to the disabled ones at the university which may impact the quality of the university.

The Impact of Cervical Cancer on the Sexuality of Muslim Female Patients with Husbands: A Qualitative Phenomenological Study

The treatment period for the cancer cervix and its treatment can also cause various change physical and physiological, which can cause various problems one of which is the disturbance of sex. Cancer cervix in a manner directly affects the sexual organs, almost 50% of women with cancer cervix report dysfunction sexual. Dysfunction sexual This can be felt only by women just or women with a partner. Study This aim to see the aspect of sexuality specifically for patients with cancer cervix, based on a change in physical and psychological consequences of the disease and its treatment. This study used a phenomenological hermeneutic method, data collection was carried out using semi-structured interviews which were then transcribed. Data analysis using content analysis or content analysis. Research results obtained three themes namely: problem physical problems psychologically, the efforts made to overcome the problem with sex, and hope patience. Deep conclusions study this patient’s cancer cervix experience problem sexual dysfunction and need maintenance holistically.

포스트휴먼 존재로서 어린이의 발현적 연극놀이 탐색

The purpose of this study is to examine through expressive theatrical play that children are rich posthuman beings. This study utilized participatory observation and a posthumanist approach, drawing on van Manen's hermeneutic phenomenological analysis method. The study was conducted at Y Kindergarten in Busan, focusing on one class of four-year-old children, from early October 2022 to the end of January 2023, with observations conducted four to five days a week, approximately from 9:00 to 13:00, totaling 70 sessions. The research findings and their significance can be summarized as follows. First, as posthuman beings, young children initiate dramatic play from the arrangement of materials, and in their dramatic play, various theatrical elements such as stories, props, characters, and backgrounds are enacted and manifested. Second, as posthuman beings, young children experience heightened dramatic experiences within their dramatic play, and their unique characteristics are expressed.Third, as posthuman beings, young children establish relationships with materials within their environment. This study is significant in that it views infants as posthuman beings and examines the emergent nature of infant existence revealed in expressive theatrical play. In the future, it is hoped that children will be recognized as posthumans in early childhood education and that expressive theatrical play will be actively carried out.

Teachers’ Lived Experiences on Collaboration in Online Teacher Education: A Phenomenological Study

This research aimed to explore the English language teachers’ lived experiences of collaboration in teacher education via online mode. This study embraced a phenomenological qualitative research design and involved four English teachers purposively to gather their lived experiences on the phenomena. Informal discussions and semi-structured interviews were used to gather data. Using the Hermeneutic phenomenological method, the data were analyzed. This study used Vygotsky's Social Constructivism as its theoretical foundation (1978). The findings demonstrate that English language teachers have positive perspectives and collaboration experiences in online teacher education. The collaboration develops their confidence, critical analysis, technological skills, and rapport building. The participants expressed that collaboration in teacher education reduces the workload and stress if all the members are equally responsible for the completion of their tasks. However, the division of work constrains the members into their parts only resulting the less exploration and knowledge construction in others’ portions.

The Impact of Advanced Melanoma on the Relational Sphere, Body and Quality of Life: A Phenomenological-Hermeneutic Study

Background: Cutaneous melanoma represents one of the most frequent cancers in the adult population and accounts for more than 80% of skin cancer deaths. Due to pharmacological innovations, there is an increased chronicization of the disease, so the concept of quality of life becomes increasingly important. The purpose of this study was to assess the psychological and social impact of advanced melanoma, thus the influence of the disease in the relationship with one's body, on the relational sphere, on ways of coping with the event, and on the perceived quality of life. Method: Four semi structured interviews were administered to a sample of 22 patients with advanced melanoma (stage III and IV) to explore in depth participants' subjective experiences regarding the impact of the disease. The interviews were transcribed and subjected to content analysis using the phenomenological-hermeneutic method. Results: From the analysis of the interviews, many patients experienced fear, anxiety and shock at the time of diagnosis, feelings of isolation and reduced social support during the oncology process. Medical and family support was found to be crucial for adjustment to the disease, while body image was negatively affected by the disease. However, some patients showed resilience and positive adaptation to cancer, trying to maintain their quality of life. Conclusion: This study highlighted the importance of considering the psychological and social impact of advanced melanoma in patients. Understanding their experiences is essential to provide appropriate support and develop interventions aimed at improving their quality of life.

Facing a new life-The healthy transition to motherhood: What individual and environmental factors are needed? A phenomenological-hermeneutic study

ObjectiveThe aim of the study was to highlight first-time mothers’ experiences of the transition to motherhood uncovering personal and environmental conditions facilitating or preventing the process of a healthy transition in a Swedish context. DesignA qualitative study with interview data analyzed using a phenomenological hermeneutic method. Setting and participantsTen recent first-time mothers were selected from three primary healthcare centers in western Sweden. FindingsFour themes emerged, and the transition could be divided into several phases, interpreted as facing a new life, while feeling unprepared for identity and existential issues. The experience of becoming a mother was described as oscillation between a loss of former identity from previous life, and on the other hand, the joy and expectations of forming a new family. The mothers had high demands of themselves, often influenced by social media and needed to value the flow of information and `let go of control` to be able to make adequate decisions. The close family of origin was invaluable in this process being able to provide confirmation in the new role, facilitating the development of their own security and self-confidence. Key conclusionsThe vulnerability expressed by new mothers shows that support from the family of origin, partners and professionals are indispensable. The desired result after the transition to motherhood is a prosperous, maturity and confident mother. The main promoting factor in this process seems to be having a safe base that can provide required support. Implications for practiceThe level of wellbeing after the transition is crucial and the possibility of a warm, responsive and secure parenting needs to be strengthened. The challenge to preventive health care will be to identify a lack of support and ensure that these mothers gain sufficient support to meet today´s demands and still feel that they are good enough mothers for their children.

Outsiders Within

Few Black nurses occupy positions of leadership, and even fewer Black female nurses advance to careers as nurse executives. The purpose of this 2018 study was to explore the lived experience of being Black and female when becoming a nurse executive, specifically the nuances of being both a racial and gender minority. Using a hermeneutic phenomenological method, this study explored the experiences of a purposive sample of 10 Black female nurse executives through semistructured telephone interviews. van Manen's approach and Collins' Black feminist thought as the theoretical framework guided data analysis. Three themes emerged: (a) living in a constant state of readiness; (b) embracing the responsibility beyond the job description; and (c) overcoming. Participants testified of the psychological dynamics of Black womanness, and the burdens of the intersectionality of race, gender, and class discrimination, while managing the complexities and rigors of a thriving career. Discussing the results of this research will help leaders in nursing, health care, and related professions to understand further the experiences of Black female nurse executives, which will inform efforts to (a) increase minority representation in positions of nursing leadership and (b) improve health equity.

The emotional involvement of physicians in the Oncology Intensive Care Unit: a phenomenological-hermeneutic study.

This phenomenological-hermeneutic study is about the experiences of physicians in the Oncology Intensive Care Unit of the Careggi University Hospital, in Florence. The Oncology Intensive Care Unit is a place of great emotional impact and can be create stressful situations. The emotional labor can lead to the development of cynicism, depersonalization and emotional exhaustion. The objective of the study was to learn about and come into contact with the experiences of operators who operate in a highly specialized and critical context. A semi-structured interview was conducted on 11 physicians in the Oncology Intensive Care Unit of careggi hospital. The interviews were transcribed and subjected to content analysis using the phenomenological-hermeneutic method. The results concerning the emotional involvement of doctors were placed in three macro categories: difficulties, what helps and needs. The interviews highlight the difficulty doctors have in coming into contact with the potentially deadly disease and a further aggravating element appears to be the identification with the patient himself. This condition of difficulty can lead doctors to commit medical errors or to reduce the quality of care. The results that emerged provide a more detailed understanding of the landscape of emotional reactions of working with the cancer patient in the intensive care unit. In light of the high emotional burden and the inherent possibility of developing burnout in this target population of health care workers, knowing the main critical issues and needs reported may facilitate a more effective tailored intervention.