Understanding the Learning Experience among Family Members of Cancer Survivors from a Heuristic Approach

Abstract

This study explored and provided insight into the learning experience among family members of cancer survivors. Qualitative approach specifically, Heuristic Inquiry was employed as the researcher had the direct experience in this phenomenon. She used her own' lens' to understand her own learning experience and by sharing people's stories that have the same lived experience helped to understand as fully as possible the learning experience among family members of cancer survivors. The study was guided by five research questions: 1) 'What are the learning experience of the participants? 2) How do the participants learn? 3) How is learning facilitated by critical reflection? 4) How does learning lead to self-transformation? 5) What are the stages of self-transformation? The researcher herself went through a process of internal search in which she reflected on her experience and discovered the meaning of the learning experience and developed ways to interpret them. Data were supported by ten selected participants based on the criteria: 1) The participants should be the immediate family member of a cancer survivor who has 5 years survivorship; 2) The participants should have been entrusted in providing care to the cancer survivor during the survivorship; 3) The participants have gone through self-transformation. The ten participants were interviewed in this study. The interviews were in English. Each interview lasted between an hour to about two hours, were taped recorded, transcribed verbatim and analyzed manually. Additionally, non-participant observation took place at a hospital. Besides that, the sharing with four other cancer survivors was also carried out. Ethical issues were addressed. The trustworthiness of the study was ensured through triangulation, namely member check, peer examination and a documentation of an audit trail.