The dragon boat as meaningful experience of peer support for breast cancer survivors

Journal title RICERCHE DI PSICOLOGIA
Author/s Marco Guicciardi, Ilaria Frau
Publishing Year 2017 Issue 2016/4
Language Italian Pages 19 P. 565-583 File size 227 KB
DOI 10.3280/RIP2016-004006
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The benefits of physical activity in improving the side effects of treatments have been widely studied in the different phases of breast cancer. The most encouraging results concern the survival phase, during which the physical activity appears to be an effective supportive therapy designed to improve the quality of life and the physical, mental and social well-being. There are numerous qualitative studies that have analysed the benefits of Dragon Boat. This traditional sport Chinese has become popular in oncology following the establishment in 1996 of a crew "Abreast in a Boat", made up of Canadian women breast surgery. Since then, the "Pink Teams" are often present in the national and international competitions. This study, using semi-structured interviews, analyses the shared meanings that breast cancer survivors, assign to this experience of physical, psychological, social and spiritual well-being.

Keywords: Dragon Boat, well-being, breast cancer survivors, qualitative inquiry, vignettes.

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Marco Guicciardi, Ilaria Frau, Il dragon boat come significativa esperienza di supporto tra pari per donne sopravvissute al cancro al seno in "RICERCHE DI PSICOLOGIA " 4/2016, pp 565-583, DOI: 10.3280/RIP2016-004006