Reorganization of the Everyday Lives of Women with Lymphedema

림프부종 환자의 일상생활 재편성 경험

Purpose: This qualitative study aimed to understand the experiences of reorganization of everyday lives among the women with chronic health problem. Methods: In this study, the approach and its process of sociology of everyday lives were adopted. Data for the study came from 6 informants and 9 family members of the informants by interview and participant-observation from January, 2004 to May, 2006. Qualitative content analyzing methods were adopted. Results: Informants' everyday lives were reorganized as follows. During the experiences of shock from unpleasant and unclear symptoms of their body, their sight fixed on the body part. Their time also fixed on a point of present. They started to wander from medical care to folk and lay care. After they were informed that the health problem could not be treated completely, they reduced the world of everyday life and protected themselves from the chaotic unfamiliar world by setting -a- side duties as a family member and severing unessential social relationship. As they achieved a skill for managing their health problem, they gained their former pattern of everyday lives as a woman, a family member, and a social member. Finally, they created a new life world. Conclusion: We need more study on the development of an adaptive strategy by the informants, to intervene in the crisis of everyday life.