01897nas a2200229   4500000000100000008004100001653001100042653002000053653002100073653001200094653001000106653001400116653002100130100001200151245009000163856007800253300001100331490000700342050001400349520129000363022001401653       2014                            d10aStigma10aPhenomenography10aLife experiences10aleprosy10aKorea10aInfection10aHansen's disease1 aYang YK00a[Life Experiences of Korean Patients with Hansen's Disease in Sorok Island Hospital].  uhttp://synapse.koreamed.org/Synapse/Data/PDFData/0006JKAN/jkan-44-639.pdf  a639-480 v44  aYANG 20143 a<p><strong>PURPOSE: </strong>The purpose of this study was to identify life experiences of Korean patients with Hansen's disease (leprosy).</p>

<p><strong>METHODS: </strong>For this study, 5 participants from Sorok Island Hospital were purposively chosen. Data were collected through in-depth individual interviews from June to July 2014. Data analysis method was based on Colaizzi's approach.</p>

<p><strong>RESULTS: </strong>The study results showed that experiences of patients with Hansen's disease consisted of 14 themes and six theme clusters: 1) Bad disease approaching as fate; 2) Family breakup and far from the village; 3) New life in Sorok Island Hospital; 4) Treatment of Hansen's disease and disability; 5) Life in the disease community; 6) Comfort and hope of life.</p>

<p><strong>CONCLUSION: </strong>The findings of this study indicate that health care professionals should pay attention to patients with Hansen's disease not only to reduce their physical and psychological suffering, but also to help the community and public culture to reduce the social stigma surrounding this disease and causing suffering for the patients. The results of the present study can help us to have a better understanding of various aspects of patients' lived experiences.</p>
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