The Disease Experience of Women with Granulomatous Lobular Mastitis. A Qualitative Interview Study

BACKGROUND: The incidence of granulomatous lobular mastitis (GLM) is increasing year by year, and the breast wounds of women patients with GLM can develop into abscesses, fistulas, sinuses, and sometimes orange-like degeneration similar to malignant tumors, which seriously affects the quality of life of women patients with GLM. In China, breast wounds in women patients with GLM have not been better managed. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to explore the disease experience of women patients with GLM, to provide a basis for the development of precise intervention and support strategies for women patients with GLM, and to further improve the quality of nursing management and enrich the research types of GLM. METHODS: In this study, 10 cases of GLM women patients from a tertiary hospital in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province were selected by purposive sampling. After obtaining the informed consent of GLM women patients, semi-structured interviews were conducted with GLM women patients using the interview outline to collect qualitative data. The interview was recorded, transcribed verbatim in the local language, and then translated into English, and the content analysis method was used to analyze the data. The Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (CORE-Q) checklist follows the report ‘s findings. RESULTS: Our study identified six themes: (a) Perception of the disease, (b) Emotional discomfort (c) Variety of changes (d) Lack of specific skills (e) Coping strategies adopted to rebuild health, (f) Expectation. CONCLUSION: The experience of women with GLM is characterized by diversity and specificity. After experiencing physical trauma, most patients use support systems to change negative attitudes and rebuild physical and mental health. Family, hospital and society should be fully linked to strengthen the prevention of GLM and the popularization of nursing management knowledge; nurses should provide targeted nursing services. Nursing leaders should improve the medical security system, broaden the medical channels, and reduce the pain experience and pressure of patients.