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Joan Bottorff

University of British Columbia, Institute for Healthy Living and Chronic Disease Prevention, Faculty Member

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Phone: 250-807-8627
Address: University of British - Columbia Okanagan Campus
3333 University Way
Kelowna, BC
Canada V1V 1V7

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Papers by Joan Bottorff

Reformulating the Worker Identity: Men’s Experiences After Radical Prostatectomy

Qualitative Health Research, Jan 24, 2019

The number of men in the Canadian workforce who have prostate cancer is increasing. The purpose o... more The number of men in the Canadian workforce who have prostate cancer is increasing. The purpose of the study was to explore the processes involved in men's return to work post radical prostatectomy and understand how these events are connected to masculinities. Drawing on data collected through individual interviews with 24 participants, constructivist grounded theory method was used to develop the substantive theory of Reformulating the Worker Identity which comprises two processes, recovering after radical prostatectomy and renegotiating work expectations. Recovering after radical prostatectomy revealed how men overcame side effects at home and evaluated their potential for returning to work. Renegotiating work expectations included participant's strategies for securing graduated return to work accommodations. Study findings revealed that the challenges for fully returning to work post prostatectomy are often underestimated by clinicians and patients. In this context, preempting return to work challenges preoperatively might allay significant anxieties for many men.

“He’s More Typically Female Because He’s Not Afraid to Cry”

Depression, a disorder often thought of as a women’s health issue, is underreported in men. Littl... more Depression, a disorder often thought of as a women’s health issue, is underreported in men. Little is known about how heterosexual couples respond when the male partner is depressed; however, couples are often challenged to make life adjustments that impact their gender relations. The findings detailed in this chapter are drawn from an innovative qualitative study of 26 heterosexual couples (26 men and their 26 women partners) in which the man had a formal diagnosis and/or self-identified as depressed. Canadian-based participants completed individual, semistructured interviews that focused on exploring how masculinities and femininities intersect to forge particular heterosexual gender relations in the context of the male partner’s depression. A social constructionist gender analysis revealed three couple typologies: trading places, business as usual, and edgy tensions. Trading places refers to couples who embodied some atypical masculine and feminine roles to compensate for the men’s depression-induced losses (eg, men as homemakers and women as breadwinners). Women partners in these dyads broke with feminine ideals in how they provided partner support by employing tough love strategies to protect themselves and prompt the men’s self-management of their depression. Couples involved in business as usual co-constructed men’s alignment with masculine workman ideals and women’s emotional support to counter and conceal men’s depression-induced deficits. Among couples in the edgy tensions category, a mismatch of gender expectations fueled resentment and dysfunction that threatened the viability of some relationships. Overall, the limits of women’s resilience and caregiving were evident, yet the findings also reveal how women directly influenced the men’s management of their depression. Opportunities for couples to assess their relationship dynamics within a broad range of gender relations might support couples’ connectedness and life quality during the challenges that accompany men’s depression.

The Connections Between Work, Prostate Cancer Screening, Diagnosis, and the Decision to Undergo Radical Prostatectomy

American Journal of Men's Health, Jun 25, 2018

Prostate cancer diagnosis can occur at a time when men's work and careers are central to their ma... more Prostate cancer diagnosis can occur at a time when men's work and careers are central to their masculine identity, sense of purpose, and family life. In Canada, an aging male population, along with medical advances, has resulted in increasing numbers of working men being diagnosed with, and treated for, prostate cancer. Little is known about the linkages between men's work and their experiences of prostate cancer. In this qualitative study, 24 Western Canadian men were interviewed to distil the connections between work, prostate cancer screening, diagnosis, and the decision to undergo radical prostatectomy. Data were analyzed using constant comparison in the context of masculinities theory. The findings demonstrated that work was central to men's masculine identities and afforded financial security, social status, and a sense of personal growth. However, work-related strain and demands were also found to affect participants' health and distance them from their families. A diagnosis of prostate cancer tended to diminish the importance of work, wherein participants focused on optimizing their health and strengthening family relations. In deciding on radical prostatectomy as a treatment to eradicate prostate cancer, few men considered the implications for returning to work. The current study findings indicate that clinicians and patients should explicitly explore and discuss how surgery side effects may affect work and career plans during treatment decision-making.

Healthcare Professionals Implementing Smoke-Free Policies at Inpatient Psychiatric Units: An Ethnographic Study

The International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 2013

The reasons for the persistently high prevalence rate of smoking among people living with severe ... more The reasons for the persistently high prevalence rate of smoking among people living with severe and persistent mental illness (SPMI) are complex and multifaceted, and tobacco control policies can be integral to influencing tobacco use among this population. In addition, secondhand smoke is responsible for serious illness, including heart disease and lung cancer, in otherwise healthy nonsmokers, and tobacco control policies are key to reducing these exposures (Ontario Tobacco Research Unit, 2001; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2006). Smoke-free buildings can eliminate harmful exposure to secondhand smoke (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2006). Health authorities in Canada extended smoke-free building policies to include surrounding grounds and introduced stringent tobacco-free grounds policies to further reduce these exposures (Kunyk, Els, Predy, & Haase, 2007; Parle, Parker, & Steeves, 2005). Implementing these policies can be particularly challenging in contexts in which health care is provided to people living with SPMI because of the complex social environment. The aim of this study was to describe how the implementation of a smoke-free grounds policy (SFGP) was affected by institutional cultures. Institutional cultures pertain "to the multiple aspects of what is shared among people within the same organization: for example, beliefs, values, norms of behavior, routines, traditions, sensemaking" (Parmelli et al., 2011, p. 2). In this article, we present the perspectives of health care professionals (HCPs), describing their underlying beliefs, norms, and the contexts that influence policy implementation. We also suggest some recommendations for applying the study findings to future policy implementation. Smoking and SPMI To understand better the study and our aims, some background on the relationships between smoking and SPMI is necessary. Smoking has been described as a cultural norm in psychiatric settings, and some authorities attribute the high rates of smoking among people with SPMI as influenced primarily by cultural factors (Crockford,

Never Alone: Family Support of Punjabi Women with Breast Cancer

Man-up Against Suicide

Does nursing research have a future?

The Canadian nurse, 2011

What Are the Effects of Tobacco Policies on Vulnerable Populations?

Canadian Journal of Public Health, 2006

Background: While comprehensive tobacco policies have reduced the prevalence of smoking in Canada... more Background: While comprehensive tobacco policies have reduced the prevalence of smoking in Canada, some groups remain vulnerable to tobacco use and display high rates of smoking. This article reviews three types of tobacco policies-tax and price, smoking location restrictions and sales restrictions-and examines the consequences for Aboriginal people, youth and low-income people. Methods: A better practices review model was used to assess the strength of studies published between 1990 and 2004 that examined the effects of these tobacco policies on the three vulnerable populations of interest. A total of 72 studies were assessed and 42 judged medium or high strength. A gender-based and diversity analysis was applied to assess the differential impacts on females and males and/or diverse characteristics within these populations. Intended and unintended consequences were examined. Findings: Few studies assessed the potential or differential effects of tobacco policies on the three selected populations. In these, it was difficult to disentangle the effects of each policy in a comprehensive tobacco control environment, and there is need for improved indicators and greater attention to sex and gender analysis. Conclusions: Research is required to measure the intended and unintended impacts of tobacco policies on populations vulnerable to tobacco use. There are problems in assessing these studies that could be resolved with more precise indicator development. An equity-based framework for assessing the effects of tobacco policies is needed that is conceptually linked to health determinants and inequities. The article concludes with a set of recommendations for research, evaluation, policy and ethics arising from this review.

Evaluation of QuitNow Men: An Online, Men-Centered Smoking Cessation Intervention

Journal of medical Internet research, Jan 20, 2016

Men continue to smoke cigarettes in greater numbers than women. There is growing evidence for the... more Men continue to smoke cigarettes in greater numbers than women. There is growing evidence for the value of developing targeted, men-centered health promotion programs. However, few smoking cessation interventions have been designed for men. A gender-specific website, QuitNow Men, was developed based on focus group interview findings, stakeholder feedback, and evidence-based cessation strategies. The website was designed to incorporate a masculine look and feel through the use of images, direct language, and interactive content. Usability experts and end-users provided feedback on navigation and functionality of the website prior to pilot testing. The objectives of the pilot study were to describe (1) men's use and evaluations of the interactive resources and information on the QuitNow Men website, and (2) the potential of QuitNow Men to engage men in reducing and quitting smoking. A one-group, pretest-posttest study design was used. Men who were interested in quitting were recru...

Dimensions of Tobacco-Dependence Scale

PsycTESTS Dataset, 2001

Beliefs related to breast health practices: the perceptions of South Asian women living in Canada

Social Science & Medicine, 1998

ÐBreast cancer is becoming a major concern for many South Asian women. Clinical observations of w... more ÐBreast cancer is becoming a major concern for many South Asian women. Clinical observations of women from a South Asian community living in Canada revealed an under use of early detection strategies. The purpose of this qualitative ethnoscience study was to examine breast health practices from the perspective of South Asian women to provide a foundation for the development of culturally suitable breast health services for this group. Open-ended interviews were conducted with a convenience sample of 50 South Asian women over the age of 30 who had not been diagnosed with breast cancer. Adequate representation of the main religious groups (i.e. Sikh, Hindu, Muslim and Christian) was ensured through sampling techniques. Analysis of translated interviews involved identi®cation of themes and the development of a taxonomy to represent relationships among emerging cultural themes and domains. Four central domains of beliefs related to breast health practices were identi®ed: beliefs about a woman's calling, beliefs about cancer, beliefs about taking care of your breasts and beliefs about accessing services. These beliefs hold important implications for how health promotion strategies should be structured and oered. In particular, attention must be paid to the language that is used to talk about breast cancer, the importance of the role of the family in women's health decisions and traditions related to using narratives to share information and advice.

Smoking and Breast Cancer: Girls’ and Boys’ Reactions to Tailored, Internet Delivered Messages

Visibility and Voice

Qualitative Health Research, 2015

In Canada, cultural safety (CS) is emerging as a theoretical and practice lens to orient health c... more In Canada, cultural safety (CS) is emerging as a theoretical and practice lens to orient health care services to meet the needs of Aboriginal people. Evidence suggests Aboriginal peoples’ encounters with health care are commonly negative, and there is concern that these experiences can contribute to further adverse health outcomes. In this article, we report findings based on participatory action research drawing on Indigenous methods. Our project goal was to interrogate practices within one hospital to see whether and how CS for Aboriginal patients could be improved. Interviews with Aboriginal patients who had accessed hospital services were conducted, and responses were collated into narrative summaries. Using interlocking analysis, findings revealed a number of processes operating to produce adverse health outcomes. One significant outcome is the production of structural violence that reproduces experiences of institutional trauma. Positive culturally safe experiences, although l...

Canadian Nursing in the Genomic Era: A Call for Leadership

Nursing Leadership, 2005

Dimensions of Tobacco Dependence Scale--Short Version

PsycTESTS Dataset, 2007

Modified Hooked on Nicotine Checklist

PsycTESTS Dataset, 2007

Analyzing participant produced photographs from an ethnographic study of fatherhood and smoking

Research in Nursing & Health, 2008

“Just Because You’ve Got Lung Cancer Doesn’t Mean I Will”: Lung Cancer, Smoking, and Family Dynamics

Journal of Family Nursing, 2010

Although individuals who are diagnosed with smoking-related disorders are offered smoking cessati... more Although individuals who are diagnosed with smoking-related disorders are offered smoking cessation programs, little attention has been directed toward reducing tobacco use among healthy relatives who smoke. The purpose of this article is to report smoking relatives’ responses to a family member’s diagnosis of lung disease, their constructions of smoking in this context, and their interaction patterns with the patient. Interviews with 11 family members where there was a diagnosis of lung cancer and 3 family members where there was another serious smoking-related diagnosis were analyzed. Family members used two strategies to support their continued smoking: distancing themselves from the diagnosis and taking the position that smoking cessation needed to be internally motivated by the “right reason” and initiated at the “right time” to anticipate success. The few participants who chose to quit, did so in support of their ill family member. The findings provide direction for intervenin...

Health effects of using cannabis for therapeutic purposes: a gender analysis of users' perspectives

Substance use & misuse, 2011

The purpose of this qualitative study was to describe how individuals who self-report therapeutic... more The purpose of this qualitative study was to describe how individuals who self-report therapeutic use of cannabis perceive its health effects. Data from 23 individual interviews were transcribed and analyzed. Understandings of gendered roles and identities were used to explore the data and interpret differences in perceptions. Descriptions of the health benefits of cannabis for therapeutic purposes included cannabis as life preserving, a disease therapy, a medicine for the mind, a means for self-management, and a way to manage addiction. Self-management of risks focused on the potential effects of excessive use, smoking-related risks, and purchasing precautions. Although the reports of women and men were similar in many respects, there were important differences in patterns and practices of use that reflected gender influences. Insights from the study provide direction for developing gender-specific information to support decision making and usage for therapeutic users.

Family Support of Immigrant Punjabi Women With Breast Cancer

Family & Community Health, 2007

Women with breast cancer have been found to rely heavily on family members for providing support ... more Women with breast cancer have been found to rely heavily on family members for providing support during their illness experiences. There has been limited research on ethnocultural families&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; experiences of illness and how these families respond to a diagnosis of breast cancer. This study examined the experiences and responses of family members of immigrant Punjabi women diagnosed with breast cancer. Through interviews with 19 Punjabi women diagnosed with breast cancer and 18 family members, key practical and emotional support strategies were described. Recommendations for culturally appropriate, family-centered models of care are provided that acknowledge breast cancer as a family event.

Reformulating the Worker Identity: Men’s Experiences After Radical Prostatectomy

Qualitative Health Research, Jan 24, 2019

The number of men in the Canadian workforce who have prostate cancer is increasing. The purpose o... more The number of men in the Canadian workforce who have prostate cancer is increasing. The purpose of the study was to explore the processes involved in men's return to work post radical prostatectomy and understand how these events are connected to masculinities. Drawing on data collected through individual interviews with 24 participants, constructivist grounded theory method was used to develop the substantive theory of Reformulating the Worker Identity which comprises two processes, recovering after radical prostatectomy and renegotiating work expectations. Recovering after radical prostatectomy revealed how men overcame side effects at home and evaluated their potential for returning to work. Renegotiating work expectations included participant's strategies for securing graduated return to work accommodations. Study findings revealed that the challenges for fully returning to work post prostatectomy are often underestimated by clinicians and patients. In this context, preempting return to work challenges preoperatively might allay significant anxieties for many men.

“He’s More Typically Female Because He’s Not Afraid to Cry”

Depression, a disorder often thought of as a women’s health issue, is underreported in men. Littl... more Depression, a disorder often thought of as a women’s health issue, is underreported in men. Little is known about how heterosexual couples respond when the male partner is depressed; however, couples are often challenged to make life adjustments that impact their gender relations. The findings detailed in this chapter are drawn from an innovative qualitative study of 26 heterosexual couples (26 men and their 26 women partners) in which the man had a formal diagnosis and/or self-identified as depressed. Canadian-based participants completed individual, semistructured interviews that focused on exploring how masculinities and femininities intersect to forge particular heterosexual gender relations in the context of the male partner’s depression. A social constructionist gender analysis revealed three couple typologies: trading places, business as usual, and edgy tensions. Trading places refers to couples who embodied some atypical masculine and feminine roles to compensate for the men’s depression-induced losses (eg, men as homemakers and women as breadwinners). Women partners in these dyads broke with feminine ideals in how they provided partner support by employing tough love strategies to protect themselves and prompt the men’s self-management of their depression. Couples involved in business as usual co-constructed men’s alignment with masculine workman ideals and women’s emotional support to counter and conceal men’s depression-induced deficits. Among couples in the edgy tensions category, a mismatch of gender expectations fueled resentment and dysfunction that threatened the viability of some relationships. Overall, the limits of women’s resilience and caregiving were evident, yet the findings also reveal how women directly influenced the men’s management of their depression. Opportunities for couples to assess their relationship dynamics within a broad range of gender relations might support couples’ connectedness and life quality during the challenges that accompany men’s depression.

The Connections Between Work, Prostate Cancer Screening, Diagnosis, and the Decision to Undergo Radical Prostatectomy

American Journal of Men's Health, Jun 25, 2018

Prostate cancer diagnosis can occur at a time when men's work and careers are central to their ma... more Prostate cancer diagnosis can occur at a time when men's work and careers are central to their masculine identity, sense of purpose, and family life. In Canada, an aging male population, along with medical advances, has resulted in increasing numbers of working men being diagnosed with, and treated for, prostate cancer. Little is known about the linkages between men's work and their experiences of prostate cancer. In this qualitative study, 24 Western Canadian men were interviewed to distil the connections between work, prostate cancer screening, diagnosis, and the decision to undergo radical prostatectomy. Data were analyzed using constant comparison in the context of masculinities theory. The findings demonstrated that work was central to men's masculine identities and afforded financial security, social status, and a sense of personal growth. However, work-related strain and demands were also found to affect participants' health and distance them from their families. A diagnosis of prostate cancer tended to diminish the importance of work, wherein participants focused on optimizing their health and strengthening family relations. In deciding on radical prostatectomy as a treatment to eradicate prostate cancer, few men considered the implications for returning to work. The current study findings indicate that clinicians and patients should explicitly explore and discuss how surgery side effects may affect work and career plans during treatment decision-making.

Healthcare Professionals Implementing Smoke-Free Policies at Inpatient Psychiatric Units: An Ethnographic Study

The International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 2013

The reasons for the persistently high prevalence rate of smoking among people living with severe ... more The reasons for the persistently high prevalence rate of smoking among people living with severe and persistent mental illness (SPMI) are complex and multifaceted, and tobacco control policies can be integral to influencing tobacco use among this population. In addition, secondhand smoke is responsible for serious illness, including heart disease and lung cancer, in otherwise healthy nonsmokers, and tobacco control policies are key to reducing these exposures (Ontario Tobacco Research Unit, 2001; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2006). Smoke-free buildings can eliminate harmful exposure to secondhand smoke (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2006). Health authorities in Canada extended smoke-free building policies to include surrounding grounds and introduced stringent tobacco-free grounds policies to further reduce these exposures (Kunyk, Els, Predy, & Haase, 2007; Parle, Parker, & Steeves, 2005). Implementing these policies can be particularly challenging in contexts in which health care is provided to people living with SPMI because of the complex social environment. The aim of this study was to describe how the implementation of a smoke-free grounds policy (SFGP) was affected by institutional cultures. Institutional cultures pertain "to the multiple aspects of what is shared among people within the same organization: for example, beliefs, values, norms of behavior, routines, traditions, sensemaking" (Parmelli et al., 2011, p. 2). In this article, we present the perspectives of health care professionals (HCPs), describing their underlying beliefs, norms, and the contexts that influence policy implementation. We also suggest some recommendations for applying the study findings to future policy implementation. Smoking and SPMI To understand better the study and our aims, some background on the relationships between smoking and SPMI is necessary. Smoking has been described as a cultural norm in psychiatric settings, and some authorities attribute the high rates of smoking among people with SPMI as influenced primarily by cultural factors (Crockford,

Never Alone: Family Support of Punjabi Women with Breast Cancer

Man-up Against Suicide

Does nursing research have a future?

The Canadian nurse, 2011

What Are the Effects of Tobacco Policies on Vulnerable Populations?

Canadian Journal of Public Health, 2006

Background: While comprehensive tobacco policies have reduced the prevalence of smoking in Canada... more Background: While comprehensive tobacco policies have reduced the prevalence of smoking in Canada, some groups remain vulnerable to tobacco use and display high rates of smoking. This article reviews three types of tobacco policies-tax and price, smoking location restrictions and sales restrictions-and examines the consequences for Aboriginal people, youth and low-income people. Methods: A better practices review model was used to assess the strength of studies published between 1990 and 2004 that examined the effects of these tobacco policies on the three vulnerable populations of interest. A total of 72 studies were assessed and 42 judged medium or high strength. A gender-based and diversity analysis was applied to assess the differential impacts on females and males and/or diverse characteristics within these populations. Intended and unintended consequences were examined. Findings: Few studies assessed the potential or differential effects of tobacco policies on the three selected populations. In these, it was difficult to disentangle the effects of each policy in a comprehensive tobacco control environment, and there is need for improved indicators and greater attention to sex and gender analysis. Conclusions: Research is required to measure the intended and unintended impacts of tobacco policies on populations vulnerable to tobacco use. There are problems in assessing these studies that could be resolved with more precise indicator development. An equity-based framework for assessing the effects of tobacco policies is needed that is conceptually linked to health determinants and inequities. The article concludes with a set of recommendations for research, evaluation, policy and ethics arising from this review.

Evaluation of QuitNow Men: An Online, Men-Centered Smoking Cessation Intervention

Journal of medical Internet research, Jan 20, 2016

Men continue to smoke cigarettes in greater numbers than women. There is growing evidence for the... more Men continue to smoke cigarettes in greater numbers than women. There is growing evidence for the value of developing targeted, men-centered health promotion programs. However, few smoking cessation interventions have been designed for men. A gender-specific website, QuitNow Men, was developed based on focus group interview findings, stakeholder feedback, and evidence-based cessation strategies. The website was designed to incorporate a masculine look and feel through the use of images, direct language, and interactive content. Usability experts and end-users provided feedback on navigation and functionality of the website prior to pilot testing. The objectives of the pilot study were to describe (1) men's use and evaluations of the interactive resources and information on the QuitNow Men website, and (2) the potential of QuitNow Men to engage men in reducing and quitting smoking. A one-group, pretest-posttest study design was used. Men who were interested in quitting were recru...

Dimensions of Tobacco-Dependence Scale

PsycTESTS Dataset, 2001

Beliefs related to breast health practices: the perceptions of South Asian women living in Canada

Social Science & Medicine, 1998

ÐBreast cancer is becoming a major concern for many South Asian women. Clinical observations of w... more ÐBreast cancer is becoming a major concern for many South Asian women. Clinical observations of women from a South Asian community living in Canada revealed an under use of early detection strategies. The purpose of this qualitative ethnoscience study was to examine breast health practices from the perspective of South Asian women to provide a foundation for the development of culturally suitable breast health services for this group. Open-ended interviews were conducted with a convenience sample of 50 South Asian women over the age of 30 who had not been diagnosed with breast cancer. Adequate representation of the main religious groups (i.e. Sikh, Hindu, Muslim and Christian) was ensured through sampling techniques. Analysis of translated interviews involved identi®cation of themes and the development of a taxonomy to represent relationships among emerging cultural themes and domains. Four central domains of beliefs related to breast health practices were identi®ed: beliefs about a woman's calling, beliefs about cancer, beliefs about taking care of your breasts and beliefs about accessing services. These beliefs hold important implications for how health promotion strategies should be structured and oered. In particular, attention must be paid to the language that is used to talk about breast cancer, the importance of the role of the family in women's health decisions and traditions related to using narratives to share information and advice.

Smoking and Breast Cancer: Girls’ and Boys’ Reactions to Tailored, Internet Delivered Messages

Visibility and Voice

Qualitative Health Research, 2015

In Canada, cultural safety (CS) is emerging as a theoretical and practice lens to orient health c... more In Canada, cultural safety (CS) is emerging as a theoretical and practice lens to orient health care services to meet the needs of Aboriginal people. Evidence suggests Aboriginal peoples’ encounters with health care are commonly negative, and there is concern that these experiences can contribute to further adverse health outcomes. In this article, we report findings based on participatory action research drawing on Indigenous methods. Our project goal was to interrogate practices within one hospital to see whether and how CS for Aboriginal patients could be improved. Interviews with Aboriginal patients who had accessed hospital services were conducted, and responses were collated into narrative summaries. Using interlocking analysis, findings revealed a number of processes operating to produce adverse health outcomes. One significant outcome is the production of structural violence that reproduces experiences of institutional trauma. Positive culturally safe experiences, although l...

Canadian Nursing in the Genomic Era: A Call for Leadership

Nursing Leadership, 2005

Dimensions of Tobacco Dependence Scale--Short Version

PsycTESTS Dataset, 2007

Modified Hooked on Nicotine Checklist

PsycTESTS Dataset, 2007

Analyzing participant produced photographs from an ethnographic study of fatherhood and smoking

Research in Nursing & Health, 2008

“Just Because You’ve Got Lung Cancer Doesn’t Mean I Will”: Lung Cancer, Smoking, and Family Dynamics

Journal of Family Nursing, 2010

Although individuals who are diagnosed with smoking-related disorders are offered smoking cessati... more Although individuals who are diagnosed with smoking-related disorders are offered smoking cessation programs, little attention has been directed toward reducing tobacco use among healthy relatives who smoke. The purpose of this article is to report smoking relatives’ responses to a family member’s diagnosis of lung disease, their constructions of smoking in this context, and their interaction patterns with the patient. Interviews with 11 family members where there was a diagnosis of lung cancer and 3 family members where there was another serious smoking-related diagnosis were analyzed. Family members used two strategies to support their continued smoking: distancing themselves from the diagnosis and taking the position that smoking cessation needed to be internally motivated by the “right reason” and initiated at the “right time” to anticipate success. The few participants who chose to quit, did so in support of their ill family member. The findings provide direction for intervenin...

Health effects of using cannabis for therapeutic purposes: a gender analysis of users' perspectives

Substance use & misuse, 2011

The purpose of this qualitative study was to describe how individuals who self-report therapeutic... more The purpose of this qualitative study was to describe how individuals who self-report therapeutic use of cannabis perceive its health effects. Data from 23 individual interviews were transcribed and analyzed. Understandings of gendered roles and identities were used to explore the data and interpret differences in perceptions. Descriptions of the health benefits of cannabis for therapeutic purposes included cannabis as life preserving, a disease therapy, a medicine for the mind, a means for self-management, and a way to manage addiction. Self-management of risks focused on the potential effects of excessive use, smoking-related risks, and purchasing precautions. Although the reports of women and men were similar in many respects, there were important differences in patterns and practices of use that reflected gender influences. Insights from the study provide direction for developing gender-specific information to support decision making and usage for therapeutic users.

Family Support of Immigrant Punjabi Women With Breast Cancer

Family & Community Health, 2007

Women with breast cancer have been found to rely heavily on family members for providing support ... more Women with breast cancer have been found to rely heavily on family members for providing support during their illness experiences. There has been limited research on ethnocultural families&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; experiences of illness and how these families respond to a diagnosis of breast cancer. This study examined the experiences and responses of family members of immigrant Punjabi women diagnosed with breast cancer. Through interviews with 19 Punjabi women diagnosed with breast cancer and 18 family members, key practical and emotional support strategies were described. Recommendations for culturally appropriate, family-centered models of care are provided that acknowledge breast cancer as a family event.