The liminal self in people with multiple sclerosis: an interpretative phenomenological exploration of being diagnosed.

Strickland, Karen; Worth, Allison; Kennedy, Catriona

Abstract

Aims and objectives: To explore the lived experience of the meaning of being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis on the individual's sense of self. Background: The time leading up to and immediately following the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis has been identified as a time period shrouded by uncertainty and one where individuals have a heightened desire to seek accurate information and support. The diagnosis brings changes to the way one views the self which has consequences for biographical construction. Design: A hermeneutic phenomenological study. Methods: In-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with 10 people recently diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. The data were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Findings: This study presents the three master themes: the ‘road to diagnosis’,‘the liminal self’ and ‘learning to live with multiple sclerosis’. The diagnosis of multiple sclerosis may be conceptualised as a ‘threshold moment’ where the individual's sense of self is disrupted from the former taken-for-granted way of being and propose a framework which articulates the transition. Conclusion: The findings highlight the need for healthcare professionals to develop interventions to better support people affected by a new diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. The conceptual framework which has been developed from the data and presented in this study provides a new way of understanding the impact of the diagnosis on the individual's sense of self when affected by a new diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. This framework can guide healthcare professionals in the provision of supportive care around the time of diagnosis. Relevance for Clinical Practice: The findings provide practitioners with a new way of understanding the impact of the diagnosis on the individual’s sense of self and a framework which can guide them in the provision of supportive care around the time of diagnosis.

Citation

STRICKLAND, K., WORTH, A. and KENNEDY, C. 2017. The liminal self in people with multiple sclerosis: an interpretative phenomenological exploration of being diagnosed. Journal of clinical nursing [online], 26(11/12), pages 1714-1724. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.13593

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Sep 22, 2016
• Online Publication Date: Mar 21, 2017
• Publication Date: Jun 30, 2017
• Deposit Date: Jan 13, 2017
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 22, 2018
• Journal: Journal of clinical nursing
• Print ISSN: 0962-1067
• Electronic ISSN: 1365-2702
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 26
• Issue: 11/12
• Pages: 1714-1724
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.13593
• Keywords: Multiple Sclerosis; Diagnosis; Biography; Liminality; Sense of self; Nursing; Psychosocial nursing; Qualitative research; Phenomenology
• Public URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10059/2084
• Contract Date: Jan 13, 2017