Objectives. A diagnosis of hematologic malignancy represents a major biographical disruption, affecting emotional, relational, and existential dimensions of patients’ lives. While biomedical care predominates, patients’ lived experiences during the early diagnostic phase remain insufficiently explored. This study protocol aims to investigate whether nurse-led narrative interviews conducted within the first month after diagnosis can strengthen the therapeutic relationship, enhance trust, support emotional expression, and sustain patients’ sense of identity and agency.Trial Design. This study adopts a qualitative, holistic single-case study design, grounded in a constructivist–existentialist epistemological framework. An exploratory approach is used to generate in-depth, context-sensitive insights and inform future larger-scale qualitative research.Participants and Settings. The study will be conducted in the onco-hematology department of a tertiary hospital in Northern Italy. One adult patient (≥18 years) with a first diagnosis of hematologic malignancy within the previous 30 days will be recruited through purposive sampling. A primary caregiver will also be involved to provide a complementary perspective. Inclusion criteria include linguistic competence in Italian and clinical stability to provide informed consent.Interventions. The intervention consists of two nurse-led narrative interviews conducted approximately 15 days apart. Interviews will be guided by open-ended questions and conducted by a trained nurse using attentive, empathetic listening. Additional data sources include reflective writing by both the patient and the nurse following each interview, and a semi-structured interview with the caregiver after the second narrative interview.Primary and Secondary Outcomes. Primary outcomes focus on qualitative indicators of meaning-making, emotional expression, therapeutic alliance, and perceived support as expressed through narratives and reflections. Secondary outcomes include triangulated insights from nurse, caregiver, and researcher perspectives. Data will be analyzed using Reflexive Thematic Analysis, with methodological triangulation to enhance rigor and credibility.Conclusions. This protocol will describe a holistic qualitative single-case study exploring the impact of nurse-led narrative interventions on relational and meaning-making processes in patients newly diagnosed with hematologic malignancies, providing a foundation for future person-centered research and clinical integration.
Exploring the Impact of a Nurse-Led Narrative Interview on Newly Diagnosed Hematologic Patients: A Holistic Qualitative Single-Case Study Protocol
Federica Dellafiore
2025-01-01
Abstract
Objectives. A diagnosis of hematologic malignancy represents a major biographical disruption, affecting emotional, relational, and existential dimensions of patients’ lives. While biomedical care predominates, patients’ lived experiences during the early diagnostic phase remain insufficiently explored. This study protocol aims to investigate whether nurse-led narrative interviews conducted within the first month after diagnosis can strengthen the therapeutic relationship, enhance trust, support emotional expression, and sustain patients’ sense of identity and agency.Trial Design. This study adopts a qualitative, holistic single-case study design, grounded in a constructivist–existentialist epistemological framework. An exploratory approach is used to generate in-depth, context-sensitive insights and inform future larger-scale qualitative research.Participants and Settings. The study will be conducted in the onco-hematology department of a tertiary hospital in Northern Italy. One adult patient (≥18 years) with a first diagnosis of hematologic malignancy within the previous 30 days will be recruited through purposive sampling. A primary caregiver will also be involved to provide a complementary perspective. Inclusion criteria include linguistic competence in Italian and clinical stability to provide informed consent.Interventions. The intervention consists of two nurse-led narrative interviews conducted approximately 15 days apart. Interviews will be guided by open-ended questions and conducted by a trained nurse using attentive, empathetic listening. Additional data sources include reflective writing by both the patient and the nurse following each interview, and a semi-structured interview with the caregiver after the second narrative interview.Primary and Secondary Outcomes. Primary outcomes focus on qualitative indicators of meaning-making, emotional expression, therapeutic alliance, and perceived support as expressed through narratives and reflections. Secondary outcomes include triangulated insights from nurse, caregiver, and researcher perspectives. Data will be analyzed using Reflexive Thematic Analysis, with methodological triangulation to enhance rigor and credibility.Conclusions. This protocol will describe a holistic qualitative single-case study exploring the impact of nurse-led narrative interventions on relational and meaning-making processes in patients newly diagnosed with hematologic malignancies, providing a foundation for future person-centered research and clinical integration.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
