Features of Suffering Perceived by Japanese Patients in a Stable Condition: A Text Analysis

摘要

Objectives: We performed a text analysis of telephone consultation content regarding features of suffering (thoughts that patients cannot express to nurses) perceived by Japanese patients in a stable condition. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted by 8 telephone counselors who listened to patients’ suffering. Interview content was recorded verbatim, text was organized, and a text and association analysis was conducted (cluster analysis, bubble plot analysis, and a co-occurrence network analysis). Results: Seventy-two conversations were obtained and analyzed. It was confirmed that suffering as perceived by stable, Japanese patients had consistent concerns such as “lack of inference,” “privacy issues,” and “nurses’ not intervening on patients’ behalf.” Additionally, expectations of patients when patients are suffering are extremely diverse and were not characterized by specific tendencies. Conclusions: Emotions have a complicated influence in the context of Japanese patients’ suffering. It is necessary to consider the cultural background of expression in Japan to treat patients’ suffering.