Post-traumatic growth trend among patients with thyroid cancer during diagnosis and therapy: a qualitative research in China.

[OBJECTIVES] To explore how patients with thyroid cancer (TC) experienced and perceived post-traumatic growth (PTG) during diagnosis and thyroid-stimulating hormone suppression therapy (TSHST).

[DESIGN] This is a descriptive qualitative study with individual semistructured WeChat interviews from March to May 2022. Data were analysed using qualitative thematic analysis.

[SETTING] Oncology surgery department in general hospitals in China.

[PARTICIPANTS] A total of 13 patients with TC who had undergone TSHST after surgery were recruited through purposive maximum variation sampling and interviewed.

[RESULTS] Five themes emerged that described the coping process and change of accepting cancer-related trauma: (1) stress and transition; (2) inner reconstruction and insights; (3) behavioural regulation and self-realisation; (4) assessment and linkage of growth resources; and (5) changing trend of growth. During the process of disease diagnosis and TSHST, the respondents used supportive growth resources to achieve inner reconstruction and insights, leading to behavioural regulation and self-realisation. These three conditions are mutually influential, ultimately determining their transformation from stress to positive inner growth.

[CONCLUSIONS] The experiences of PTG among patients with TC varied during the diagnosis and treatment stages. Their PTG experiences are individually heterogeneous. Their somatic symptoms and psychological burdens can interplay with and influence their PTG experiences. Psychological interventions based on different positive psychological characteristics among patients with TC are essential to address patients' disease-related trauma and help them achieve PTG.