Table 2 Codes and themes emerging from the interviews
Category | Theme | Code |
|---|---|---|
Resources related to the patient | Personal attitude | Optimistic nature or character |
A stance of acceptance or surrender | ||
Being opinionated | ||
Having a fighting spirit | ||
Enjoying | ||
Being able to be alone | ||
Humour | ||
Life setting | ||
Having no fear for deterioration or death | ||
Seeing the positive side of things | ||
Being self reflective | ||
Coping | Actively solving problems | |
Engaging in activities | ||
Finding alternatives, being flexible with limitations | ||
Not thinking about the future | ||
Using effective coping skills from the past | ||
Different coping skills in different phases of the illness trajectory | ||
Making jokes | ||
Not being busy with illness all the time | ||
Distraction | ||
Self care | ||
Spirituality | Thoughts about the hereafter | |
Belief in a higher power | ||
Having been raised in a religious tradition | ||
Not having a belief | ||
Religious rituals | ||
Attitude towards life | ||
Resources related to social network | Family | Connection with children and grandchildren |
Not leaving family members behind | ||
Support from partner/spouse | ||
Social surroundings | Deeper connection with others | |
Feeling part of a larger community | ||
Reactions from others | ||
Support | ||
Resources related to professional support | Health care professionals | Health care professionals who actively ask about the patient’s well-being |
Professional care |