Research on the construction of a patient narrative community and emotional support in disease narratives
10.12026/j.issn.1001-8565.2025.06.02
- VernacularTitle:疾病叙事中的病友叙事共同体构建与情感支持研究
- Author:
Fanping ZENG
1
Author Information
1. School of Health， Fujian Medical University， Fuzhou 350122， China
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
patient organization;
disease narrative;
narrative community;
narrative connection;
emotional support
- From:
Chinese Medical Ethics
2025;38(6):687-694
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Taking the Z Cancer Patient Organization in Beijing as an example， by analyzing the disease narratives of cancer patients， this paper elucidated the construction of a patient narrative community and the operation mechanism of patient emotional support in the patient organization. This study found that firstly， under the advocacy of the group’s anti-cancer philosophy in the patient organization， the shared identity of suffering from cancer and the frequency of participation in organizational activities were the sources of cancer patients becoming cancer friends， establishing narrative connections， and forming emotional relationships. Secondly， the collective narrative activities of “talk therapy” were important mechanisms for constructing a patient narrative community and initiating mutual assistance practices among patients. Thirdly， emotional support was the main practice form of mutual assistance among patients， as well as the alignment of narratives and emotions helped to strengthen the patient narrative community and expand the social solidarity function of the patient organization， thereby forming mutual emotional support between patients and the patient organization. Therefore， the narrative connections and the advocacy of narrative community among patients are crucial， which not only benefits patients in enhancing their social and psychological support， re-adapting to social life， and increasing holistic healing， but also helps to create a better cancer narrative ecology for the whole society， motivating patient organizations to continuously assist cancer patients in overcoming living dilemmas and improving their quality of life.
