Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing (대한간호학회지)

Korean Society of Nursing Science (한국간호과학회)
권호 표지

Predictors of Fighting Spirit or Helplessness/Hopelessness in People with Cancer

암환자의 투병의지와 무력감 예측요인

  • 오복자 (삼육대학교 간호학과) ;
  • 이연주 (삼육대학교 임상전문간호학과)
  • Published : 2008.04.30
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

Purpose: This study was done to identify predictors of the fighting spirit or helplessness/hopelessness in the patients' mental adjustment to cancer. Cancer patients' characteristics like performance status, metastasis and duration of diagnosis with demographic factors, spiritual support and social support were used as predictors of a fighting spirit or helplessness/hopelessness. Methods: A total of 124 ambulatory cancer patients completed the Mental Adjustment to Cancer (MAC) scale and responded in a structured instrument about their characteristics, spiritual and social support. Results: The results of multiple regression analysis revealed that confidence in the supporter ($R^2=.114$, p=.000), duration of cancer diagnosis ($R^2=.041$, p=.000) and faith ($R^2=.030$, p=.000) were predictive of a fighting spirit ($R^2=.185$, p=.000); whereas, education ($R^2= .074$, p=.001), performance status ($R^2=.055$, p=.000), satisfaction with social support ($R^2=.046$, p=.000), and metastasis ($R^2=.037$, p=.000) were predictive of helplessness/hopelessness ($R^2=.202$, p=.000). Conclusion: Social support, spiritual support and disease related factors like metastasis, performance status, and duration of cancer diagnosis need to be considered in a psychosocial nursing intervention for a fighting spirit or helplessness/hopelessness.

Keywords

References

  1. Akechi, T., Okamura, H., Yamawaki, S., & Uchitomi, Y. (1998). Predictors of patients' mental adjustment to cancer: Patient characteristics and social support. British Journal of Cancer, 77, 2281-2385 https://doi.org/10.1038/bjc.1998.379
  2. Carr, E. W., & Morris, T. (1996). Spirituality and patients with advanced cancer: A social work response. Journal of Psychosocial Oncology, 14, 71-81 https://doi.org/10.1300/J077v14n01_04
  3. Carver, C. S., Scheier, M. F., & Weintraub, J. K. (1989). Assessing coping strategies: A theoretically based approach. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 56, 267-283 https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.56.2.267
  4. Chung, B. Y. (1991). Adjustment process of women with breast cancer. Unpublished doctoral dissertation. Yonsei University, Seoul
  5. Derogatis, L. R., Abeloff, M. D., & Melisaratos, N. (1979). Psychological coping mechanisms and survival time in metastatic breastcancer. Journal of the American Medical Association, 242, 1504-1508 https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.242.14.1504
  6. Ell, K., Nishimoto, R., Mantell, J., & Hamovitch, M. B. (1992). Coping with cancer: A comparison of older and younger patients. Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 19, 3-27
  7. Grassi, L., & Travado, L. (2008). The role of psychosocial oncology in cancer care, In M. P. Coleman, D. Alexe, T. Albreht & M. Mckee (Eds.), Responding to the challenge of cancer in Europe (pp.219-229). Republic of Slovenia: Tiskarna Radovljica
  8. Greer, S., Moorey, S., & Watson, M. (1989) Patients'adjustment to cancer: the mental adjustment to cancer (MAC) scale vs clinical ratings. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 33, 373-377 https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-3999(89)90027-5
  9. Greer, S., Morris, T., Pettingale, K. W., & Haybittle, J. L. (1990). Psychological response to breast cancer and 15-year outcome. Lancet, 335, 49-50 https://doi.org/10.1016/0140-6736(90)90173-3
  10. Greer, S., & Waston, M. (1987). Mental adjustment to cancer: its measurement and prognostic importance. Cancer Surveys, 6, 439-453
  11. Greer, S., Morris, T., & Pettingale, K. W. (1979). Psychological response to breast cancer: Effect on outcome. Lancet, 2(8146), 785-787
  12. Hann, D., Oxman T., Ahles, T. A., Furstenberg, C. T., & Stuke, T. A. (1995). Social support adequacy and depression in older patients with metastatic cancer. Psycho-oncology, 4, 213-221 https://doi.org/10.1002/pon.2960040307
  13. Jun, H, S. (2000). A study on the correlation between spirituality and burnout in nurses. Unpublished master's thesis, Shamyook University, Seoul
  14. Kim, J. H., Lee, S. J., & Lee, W. H. (2005). The relationship between spirituality and fighting spirit among cancer patients in Korea. Journal of Korean Academy of Adult Nursing, 17, 521-529
  15. Kim, J. H., Lee, S. J., Roh, J. K., Yoon, J. S., & Lee, W. H. (2006). Effects of spirituality promoting intervention on spirituality, social support and fighting spirit among the cancer patients. Journal of Korean Academy of Adult Nursing, 18, 240-250
  16. Livneh, H. (2000). Psychosocial adaptation to cancer: The role of coping strategies. Journal of Rehabilitation, 66(2), 1-15
  17. Kiecolt-Glaser, J. K., & Glaser, R. (1999). Psychoneuroimmunology and cancer: Fact or fiction? European Journal of Cancer, 35, 1603-1607 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0959-8049(99)00197-5
  18. Krohne, H. W. (1996). Individual differences in coping. In M. Zeidner & N. S. Endler (Eds.), Handbook of coping: Theory, research, applications (pp.381-409). New York: John Wiley & Sons
  19. Maguire, P., Booth, K., Elliott, C., & Jones, B. (1996). Helping health professionals involved in cancer care acquire key interviewing skillsthe impact of workshops. European Journal of Cancer, 32A, 1486-1489
  20. Miller, J. F. (1985). Inspiring hope, The American Journal of Nursing, 85, 22-25 https://doi.org/10.2307/3463675
  21. Razavi, D., Delvaux, N., & Hopwood, P. (1997). Improving communication with cancer patients. A challenge for physicians. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 809, 350-360 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1749-6632.1997.tb48098.x
  22. Slevin, M. L., Nichols, S. E., Downer S, M., Wilson, P., Lister, T. A., Arnott, S., et al. (1996). Emotional support for cancer patients: What do patients really want? British Journal of Cancer, 74, 1275-1279 https://doi.org/10.1038/bjc.1996.529
  23. Strack, S., & Feifel, H. (1996). Age differences, coping, and the adult life span, In M. Zeidner & N. S. Endler (Eds.), Handbook of coping: Theory, research, applications (pp. 485-501). New York: JohnWiley & Sons
  24. Taylor, E. J. (2002). Spiritual care-nursing theory, research and practice. New Jersey: Upper Saddle River
  25. Watson, M., Greer, S., Young, J., Inayat, Q., Burgess, C., & Robertson, B. (1988). Development of a questionnaire measure of adjustment to cancer: the MAC scale. Psychological Medicine, 18, 203-209 https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291700002026
  26. Watson, M., Law, M., Santos, M. D., Greer, S., Baruch, J., & Bliss, J. (1994). The mini-MAC: Further development of the mental adjustment to cancer scale. J Psychosocial Oncology, 12(3), 33-46 https://doi.org/10.1300/J077V12N03_03
  27. Wortman, C. B. (1984). Social support and the cancer patient. Conceptual and methodologic issues. Cancer, 53(10 Suppl), 2339-2362 https://doi.org/10.1002/cncr.1984.53.s10.2339