https://doi.org/10.4081/qrmh.2021.9376
Openness and topic avoidance in interpersonal communication about ovarian cancer: An uncertainty management perspective
Submitted: 29 September 2020
Accepted: 22 November 2021
Published: 31 January 2022
Accepted: 22 November 2021
Abstract Views: 2109
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All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.
Authors
This study examined openness and topic avoidance in interpersonal communication about ovarian cancer. Guided by the uncertainty management theory, the researchers analyzed qualitative data from 28 ovarian cancer patients/survivors and found openness and topic avoidance to be complex communication behaviors which are connected to patients/survivors’ uncertainty. Participants appraised uncertainty about disease prognosis and effectiveness of treatments as a threat; thus, they avoided topics such as treatment side effects and fears about death and disease recurrence to manage such uncertainty. Furthermore, findings showed that communication about ovarian cancer is layered with degrees of openness and avoidance relative to respective audiences and changing illness trajectories. Overall, the findings indicate connections between interpersonal communication about ovarian cancer and uncertainty management practices, suggesting that intervention efforts should help cancer patients/survivors and relational others practice sensitivity when discussing topics such as death and dying.
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How to Cite
Tetteh, Dinah A., and Najma Akhther. 2022. “Openness and Topic Avoidance in Interpersonal Communication about Ovarian Cancer: An Uncertainty Management Perspective”. Qualitative Research in Medicine and Healthcare 5 (3). https://doi.org/10.4081/qrmh.2021.9376.
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