This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (11) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by López, E. D. S. Articles by Robinson, N. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by López, E. D. S. Articles by Robinson, N. Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

Quality-of-Life Concerns of African American Breast Cancer Survivors Within Rural North Carolina: Blending the Techniques of Photovoice and Grounded Theory

Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida at Gainesville, elopez{at}phhp.ufl.edu

Eugenia Eng

Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, School of Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Elizabeth Randall-David

Center for Creative Education, Durham, North Carolina

Naomi Robinson

Surviving Angels-Eastern North Carolina Witness for Life Program, Williamston

Social norms imposing a prevailing silence around breast cancer in rural African American communities have made it difficult for survivors to express their quality-of-life (QOL) concerns. In this article, the authors describe how they blended the photovoice method (providing participants with cameras so they can record, discuss, and relate the realities of their lives) with grounded theory techniques to assist 13 African American breast cancer survivors from rural eastern North Carolina in (a) exploring how they perceive and address their QOL within their own social context and (b) developing a conceptual framework of survivorship QOL. The framework that emerged reveals that three social forces (racism, stigmas regarding cancer, and cultural expectations of African American women) drive four QOL concerns (seeking safe sources of support, adjusting to the role of cancer survivor, feeling comfortable about the future, and serving as role models) and that survivors address these concerns by relying on spiritual faith and devising strategies to maintain social standing.

Key Words: cancer survivorship • photovoice • grounded theory • African American • participatory action research • quality of life

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				S. D. Rhodes, K. C. Hergenrather, A. M. Wilkin, and C. Jolly Visions and Voices: Indigent Persons Living With HIV in the Southern United States Use Photovoice to Create Knowledge, Develop Partnerships, and Take Action Health Promot Pract, April 1, 2008; 9(2): 159 - 169. [Abstract] [PDF]

				C. Keller, J. Fleury, A. Perez, B. Ainsworth, and L. Vaughan Using Visual Methods to Uncover Context Qual Health Res, March 1, 2008; 18(3): 428 - 436. [Abstract] [PDF]

				W. C. Kooken, J. E. Haase, and K. M. Russell "I've Been Through Something": Poetic Explorations of African American Women's Cancer Survivorship West J Nurs Res, November 1, 2007; 29(7): 896 - 919. [Abstract] [PDF]

				C. Keller, J. Fleury, and A. Rivera Visual Methods in the Assessment of Diet Intake in Mexican American Women West J Nurs Res, October 1, 2007; 29(6): 758 - 773. [Abstract] [PDF]

				S. D. Rhodes and K. C. Hergenrather Recently Arrived Immigrant Latino Men Identify Community Approaches to Promote HIV Prevention Am J Public Health, June 1, 2007; 97(6): 984 - 985. [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. D Rhodes Visions and voices: HIV in the 21st century. Indigent persons living with HIV/AIDS in the southern USA use photovoice to communicate meaning J. Epidemiol. Community Health, October 1, 2006; 60(10): 886 - 886. [Full Text] [PDF]