Understanding symptoms in the lives of adult patients with acute or chronic illness: a phenomenological study of patient experiences
Purpose Exploring how patients with acute and/or chronic illnesses experience symptoms. Methods Using a phenomenological approach, interviews were conducted with patients to gain insights into their lived experiences and the meanings they attribute to symptoms. Phenomenological concepts of lifeworld...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2025-12-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health & Well-Being |
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| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2025.2534871 |
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| author | Malene Missel Linda Kahr Andersen Camilla Corvinius Maria Camilla Mathiasen Pernille Orloff Donsel Mai Nanna Schønau Helle Pappot Nanna Witting Melissa Culligan Giulia Locatelli Mary Jarden Karin Piil |
| author_facet | Malene Missel Linda Kahr Andersen Camilla Corvinius Maria Camilla Mathiasen Pernille Orloff Donsel Mai Nanna Schønau Helle Pappot Nanna Witting Melissa Culligan Giulia Locatelli Mary Jarden Karin Piil |
| author_sort | Malene Missel |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Purpose Exploring how patients with acute and/or chronic illnesses experience symptoms. Methods Using a phenomenological approach, interviews were conducted with patients to gain insights into their lived experiences and the meanings they attribute to symptoms. Phenomenological concepts of lifeworld, body and embodiment, intentionality, and existential anxiety provide lenses for examining the realities of patients’ experiences. Results Three central themes emerged from the Ricoeur inspired analysis: Perception of an altered body presence, which highlights how illness transforms the perception of the body from a “silent” part of the self to an intrusive presence; Symptoms as a threat to existence, illuminating how symptoms confront patients with vulnerability, mortality, and existential uncertainty; and Loss and reclaiming of control, describing the ongoing struggle patients face between feelings of helplessness and efforts to regain autonomy in daily life.Symptoms are not merely indicators of illness but are intertwined with patients’ identities and their sense of meaning in life. Conclusion Insights emphasize the importance of addressing both the biological and existential dimensions of symptoms. Face-to-face clinical encounters offer a shared opportunity to create reflective spacesValidating coping strategies and supporting patients in reclaiming control, clinicians can nurture resilience, dignity, and a comprehensive approach to symptom (self)management. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e758a4cf16f44281b012df54ffc3e7f5 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1748-2623 1748-2631 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health & Well-Being |
| spelling | doaj-art-e758a4cf16f44281b012df54ffc3e7f52025-08-20T03:40:30ZengTaylor & Francis GroupInternational Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health & Well-Being1748-26231748-26312025-12-0120110.1080/17482631.2025.25348712534871Understanding symptoms in the lives of adult patients with acute or chronic illness: a phenomenological study of patient experiencesMalene Missel0Linda Kahr Andersen1Camilla Corvinius2Maria Camilla Mathiasen3Pernille Orloff Donsel4Mai Nanna Schønau5Helle Pappot6Nanna Witting7Melissa Culligan8Giulia Locatelli9Mary Jarden10Karin Piil11Copenhagen University Hospital – RigshospitaletCopenhagen University Hospital – RigshospitaletCopenhagen University Hospital – RigshospitaletCopenhagen University Hospital – RigshospitaletCopenhagen University Hospital – RigshospitaletCopenhagen University Hospital – RigshospitaletUniversity of CopenhagenUniversity of CopenhagenTemple University Hospital PhiladelphiaUniversity of Milano-BicoccaUniversity of CopenhagenUniversity of CopenhagenPurpose Exploring how patients with acute and/or chronic illnesses experience symptoms. Methods Using a phenomenological approach, interviews were conducted with patients to gain insights into their lived experiences and the meanings they attribute to symptoms. Phenomenological concepts of lifeworld, body and embodiment, intentionality, and existential anxiety provide lenses for examining the realities of patients’ experiences. Results Three central themes emerged from the Ricoeur inspired analysis: Perception of an altered body presence, which highlights how illness transforms the perception of the body from a “silent” part of the self to an intrusive presence; Symptoms as a threat to existence, illuminating how symptoms confront patients with vulnerability, mortality, and existential uncertainty; and Loss and reclaiming of control, describing the ongoing struggle patients face between feelings of helplessness and efforts to regain autonomy in daily life.Symptoms are not merely indicators of illness but are intertwined with patients’ identities and their sense of meaning in life. Conclusion Insights emphasize the importance of addressing both the biological and existential dimensions of symptoms. Face-to-face clinical encounters offer a shared opportunity to create reflective spacesValidating coping strategies and supporting patients in reclaiming control, clinicians can nurture resilience, dignity, and a comprehensive approach to symptom (self)management.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2025.2534871symptom sciencephenomenologyricoeurqualitative studyacute and chronic illnesssymptom experiences |
| spellingShingle | Malene Missel Linda Kahr Andersen Camilla Corvinius Maria Camilla Mathiasen Pernille Orloff Donsel Mai Nanna Schønau Helle Pappot Nanna Witting Melissa Culligan Giulia Locatelli Mary Jarden Karin Piil Understanding symptoms in the lives of adult patients with acute or chronic illness: a phenomenological study of patient experiences International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health & Well-Being symptom science phenomenology ricoeur qualitative study acute and chronic illness symptom experiences |
| title | Understanding symptoms in the lives of adult patients with acute or chronic illness: a phenomenological study of patient experiences |
| title_full | Understanding symptoms in the lives of adult patients with acute or chronic illness: a phenomenological study of patient experiences |
| title_fullStr | Understanding symptoms in the lives of adult patients with acute or chronic illness: a phenomenological study of patient experiences |
| title_full_unstemmed | Understanding symptoms in the lives of adult patients with acute or chronic illness: a phenomenological study of patient experiences |
| title_short | Understanding symptoms in the lives of adult patients with acute or chronic illness: a phenomenological study of patient experiences |
| title_sort | understanding symptoms in the lives of adult patients with acute or chronic illness a phenomenological study of patient experiences |
| topic | symptom science phenomenology ricoeur qualitative study acute and chronic illness symptom experiences |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2025.2534871 |
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