The Relationships of Knowledge and Attitudes about Cancer, Empathy, and Attitudes about Child with Cancer in Upper Primary School Children

일 지역 초등학생의 암에 대한 지식, 태도, 공감과 암환아에 대한 태도의 관계

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to identify upper primary school children's knowledge and attitude about cancer, empathy, and attitudes about child with cancer, and to examine the relations between these variables and factors that influence. Methods: Methods: The participants included 474 fifth and sixth grade students. Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficients, ANOVA and Tukey test with SPSS/WIN 18.0. Results: Mean scores were for knowledge about cancer 6.03 out of a possible 1, attitude about cancer 2.23 out of a possible 5, attitudes about child with cancer 1.11 out of a possible 3, and empathy 3.18 out of a possible 5. There were significant differences in knowledge about cancer according to school grades and parents' interest in health management. Attitude about cancer showed significant differences according to harmony of family life, worries about cancer, school life, academic achievement, school parents' interest in health management and cancer education. Empathy showed significant differences according to school grades, gender, school life, harmony of family life, and parents' interest in health management. Attitudes about child with cancer showed significant differences according to school grades, school life, and parents' interest in health management. Knowledge about cancer and empathy showed a positive correlation with attitudes about child with cancer. Knowledge and attitude about cancer, and empathy showed a significant influence on attitudes about child with cancer. Conclusion: Results of this study indicate that development of an appropriate knowledge and attitudes about cancer, and empathy by late school-aged children should lead to the positive attitudes about child with cancer.