Date of Conferral

2017

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Public Health

Advisor

Dr. Raymond Panas

Abstract

Coping mechanisms of breast cancer is a public health problem among African females, particularly, the Sub-Saharan African female immigrants. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the coping mechanisms of the research group that could be used to develop and implement an intervention program to promote the quality of adaptation to improve the quality of life. The study achieved the objective by the use of 1-to-1 interviews of purposive samples of 2 and 12 using Roy Adaptation Model. Interviewed data were collected from females diagnosed with breast cancer, in treatment, and with remissions. The pilot study (n = 2) result was used to appraise the method of the primary study. The primary study sample (N = 12) data were thematically analyzed using a grounding approach. Summary of the primary copings identified in the study was crying, religion, family support, social support networks, problem-focused, emotion-focused, and relaxation techniques. The rest were positive reappraisal, health insurance/medical staff, and prevention. The findings could not be generalized to the general female immigrant population because of the sample size. However, the study has added to the knowledge and understanding of the coping mechanism of the study population. Coping mechanisms, detecting breast cancer early, and education, constitute the primary interventions that may bring significant social change in the study population.

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