Hye Min Hwang; Myungsun Yi; Eun Young Park; Eun Jin Kwon

doi:10.4040/jkan.2012.42.4.508

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Original Article
Phenomenology on the Lived Experience of Korean Women with Spinal Cord Injuries: Hye Min Hwang, Myungsun Yi, Eun Young Park, Eun Jin Kwon; Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing 2012;42(4):508-516.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.2012.42.4.508
Published online: August 31, 2012

¹College of Nursing, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.

²College of Nursing & Research Institute of Nursing Science, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.

³Department of Nursing Science, Gachon University of Medicine and Science, Incheon, Korea.

Address reprint requests to: Hwang, Hye Min. College of Nursing, Seoul National University, 28 Yongon-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul 110-799, Korea. Tel: +82-2-740-8460, Fax: +82-82-2-740-8837, teddyhm@snu.ac.kr

• Received: January 20, 2012 • Accepted: July 19, 2012

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Abstract
NOTES
REFERENCES

Abstract

Purpose
The purpose of the study was to understand and explain the essences and structures of the experience of Korean women who have had a spinal cord injury.
Methods
The data were collected in 2010 through individual in-depth interviews using open-ended questions. A total of 9 women with spinal cord injuries participated in the study. Each interview lasted about 2 hours. Verbatim transcripts were analyzed using phenomenological analysis.
Results
Five theme clusters emerged from the analysis using Colaizzi's method: frozen mind with rigid body; shame due to restrictions of physical function and dependency; struggle to go back to the previous normal body; disabilities that are noticeable in everyday family life; rebirth by discarding the obsessions of the past. These theme clusters illustrate that although most participants faced very strange and unbearable situations in most aspects of life after the injury, they were empowered finally by finding their hope and by giving new meanings to the current existence.
Conclusion
This study provides deep understanding of women with spinal cord injuries who are relatively alienated from society. Based on the results of the study, health professionals could develop effective nursing interventions to improve quality of life of these women.
Keywords: Qualitative research; Spinal cord injuries; Women

This study was supported by the Korean Academy of Qualitative Research of Nursing.

REFERENCES

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Table 1

The Characteristics of the Participants

^*Income ₩10,000.

^**ADL (Activity of Daily Living) Level 1=Independent; 2=Needs help/Dependent; 3=Cannot do ADL.

Figure & Data

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