Search

Aim: The purpose of this study was to understand the caregiving experiences of breast cancer family caregivers and explore the profound impacts of those experiences on their quality of life. Design: A qualitative research method was used. Methods: We extended invitations to 23 family caregivers of outpatients and inpatients receiving breast surgery and oncology treatments in Taiyuan, China, to participate in semi‐structured interviews. The interviews were audio‐recorded and transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis was employed to analyse the interview data. Results: Four themes and associated categories were identified: (1) changes in family dynamics, (2) the socio‐medical context, (3) interactions between family and society, (4) self‐efficacy and nine subthemes and their related categories, where virtually all participants expressed future uncertainty, emotional contagion, and personal challenges, and self‐efficacy had a moderating influence on the first three themes. Patient or Public Contribution: This study did not involve direct participation of patients or the public. However, their experiences and perspectives on caregiving were indirectly reflected through the insights provided by the family caregivers who participated in the interviews. Their valuable input contributed to a deeper understanding of the caregiving experience and its impact on the quality of life for Chinese breast cancer family caregivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The accuracy of species distribution models is influenced by physiological tolerance data. • The red-eared slider, as a typical invasive alien species, is widespread in China. • The embryo temperature tolerance range of the red-eared slider was between 21.8 °C and 33.1 °C. • Red-eared slider's high suitability areas mainly in south and central. The suitability areas predicted by the SDMs reduced 20% when considering embryo temperature tolerance data of red-eared slider. • The high suitability areas for red-eared sliders are mainly concentrated in South China, Central China, and East China. Species distribution models (SDMs) have been widely used to predict potentially suitable habitats for invasive alien species (IAS) and evaluate invasion risk. However, SDMs have been discredited because they ignore the physiological processes by which species respond to their environment. Integrating physiological tolerance into the model is essential to improve the prediction accuracy of SDMs. Currently, this approach has not been applied in the study of the worldwide invasive species, the red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans), which is one of the world's 100 worst invasive species and is widespread in China. In this study, based on hatching experiments, we found that the embryo temperature tolerance range of the red-eared slider was between 21.8 °C and 33.1 °C. Further, we studied the effect of embryo temperature tolerance on the prediction of potential invasion areas for this alien reptile species. The high suitability area (530,214.71 km2) predicted by the SDM incorporating embryo temperature tolerance data were 20.9% smaller than that (641,107.60 km2) predicted by the SDM without considering embryo temperature tolerance. The difference between the two SDMs is primarily concentrated at the edges of the high suitability areas. The incorporation of embryo temperature tolerance data influenced the model's predictions by effectively reducing the extent of edges of the high suitability areas. High suitability areas for red-eared sliders are mainly concentrated in South China, Central China, and East China, with a few in North and Southwest China. There is almost no invasion risk in most of the northeast and northwest provinces of China. This study not only has theoretical significance for optimizing model predictions, but also provides an important scientific basis for prevention and risk assessment of invasion by red-eared sliders in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]