Advanced relationships between categories analysis as a qualitative research tool

The authors propose an advanced relationships between categories (RBC) model as an expansion of Tutty, Rothery, and Grinnell's ( 1996 ) qualitative tool for classifying RBC patterns as contained, temporal, and causal relationships. It is assumed that identification of the relationships obtained among categories of qualitative data paves the way for construction of a theory, even though few tools have been developed for this purpose to date. The advanced RBC model points to three additional relationship patterns: bilateral, trilateral, and quadrilateral relationships. These relationships reveal how the text itself links among its various components. The model serves as an innovative tool for systematic derivation of explanations based on the qualitative raw data, contributing to grounded theory and other interpretive studies. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Psychol: 66:1–11, 2010.     

HLA and β2-microglobulin Expression in Basal and Squamous Cell Carcinomas of the Skin

Abstract: Histologic sections of seven squamous cell carcinomas (SCC), 13 basal cell carcinomas (BCC), and a Bowenoid actinic keratoses were examined for expression of HLA class 1 antigens (HLA-ABC) using a monoclonal antibody and an immunoperoxidase technique. Expression of β₂-microglobulin was examined with a polyclonal antibody method. Neither cell marker was detected within the Bowenoid actinic keratoses. Squamous cell carcinomas and basal cell carcinomas exhibited decreased expression of both HLA-ABC and β₂-microglobulin and often did not express these antigens at all. HLA-ABC was present in only two of 13 basal cell carcinomas and four of seven squamous cell carcinomas. β₂-microglobulin was present in one of 13 basal cell carcinomas and two of seven squamous cell carcinomas. When present, these antigens often were present in a few areas of the tumor, but absent in others. In both SCC and BCC. both antigens were usually lost simultaneously. In all tumors with β₂-microglobulin, HLA-ABC a/so was retained. There was no apparent relationship of anatomic site or type of tumor with retention of surface antigens. Since some tumors or portions of tumors retained HLA-ABC and β₂-microglobulin on their surfaces, the absence of these antigens is not an absolute marker for malignancy.     

Telling their stories, telling our stories: physicians' experiences with patients who decide to forgo or stop treatment for cancer

There is currently very little research on how physicians respond to patients with cancer who decide to forgo or stop medically recommended "curative" therapy. The purpose of this article is to report on a qualitative study with 12 oncology specialists in Israel and Australia that addresses this question. The findings indicate that physicians tend to construct patients and their decisions in terms of mutually exclusive categories that focus on curability of the disease, rationality of the patient's decision, and patients' personal attributes. Physicians' constructions of their experience focus on uncertainty and concern. Although contextual factors play a role in how physicians act in this situation, Israeli and Australian oncologists are remarkably similar in how they describe their own and their patients' experiences.     

Institutional narratives in the discourse between oncology social workers and cancer patients' self-help organization

In this study, the authors examine a discourse between members of a cancer patients' self-help organization (CP-SHO) and oncological social workers (OSWs) on support groups for cancer patients. Eight OSWs and 8 CP-SHO volunteers served as the key research population. Using the interpretive-narrative approach to research, the authors apply a variety of data collection methods and a combination of data analysis methods: narrative analysis and discourse analysis. The findings point to the simultaneous existence of two institutional narratives for each organization, one internal and the other external. Discourse between the organizations takes place mainly at the external institutional narrative level, with each body maintaining the mistaken impression that the other's perception of reality is similar to its own (false consensus). In the meantime, the internal narratives that attest to the latent meaning of the discourse govern the interaction and prevent effective dialogue between the respective organizations.     

Activism among exceptional patients with cancer

Background  

The “exceptional patients” with cancer are survivors who had advanced cancer considered incurable by medical report and who subsequently became disease-free or experienced unexplained survival time given the nature of their disease or treatment. This experience is a puzzling phenomenon that has not been formally investigated in a cancer population. The purpose of this study was to understand exceptional patients’ accounts of their experience.     

Orthotic management in patients with stroke

Orthotic management for the individual with a hemiplegic gait pattern secondary to a stroke is an important consideration for any treatment plan for this patient population. Patient evaluation, gait analysis, previous management, medical team cohesion, and patient expectations are elements necessary to establish the orthotic goals for the patient. These goals are the basis by which an orthotic treatment plan can be established as well as a measure for future outcome. Therefore, the purpose of this discussion is to describe the steps necessary to determine the most effective method of orthotic management and to identify orthotic design indications and contraindications.