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Oh and Lee: Predictors of Fighting Spirit or Helplessness/Hopelessness in People with Cancer
Original Article
Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing

Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing 2008; 38(2): 270-277.

Published online: 30 April 2008

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.2008.38.2.270

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

Pok-Ja Oh1, Yeon-Joo Lee2

1Professor, Department of Nursing, Sahmyook University, Seoul, Korea.

2Master's Course Student, Department of Nursing, Sahmyook University, Seoul, Korea.

Address reprint requests to: Oh, Pok-Ja. Department Nursing, Sahmyook University, Chungryang P.O. Box 118, Seoul 130-650, Korea. Tel: 82-2-3399-1589, Fax: 82-2-3399-1594, ohpj@syu.ac.kr

Received 5 March 2008       Accepted 26 March 2008

Copyright © 2008 Korean Society of Nursing Science

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

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 (R²=.114, p=.000), duration of cancer diagnosis (R²=.041, p=.000) and faith (R²=.030, p=.000) were predictive of a fighting spirit (R²=.185, p=.000); whereas, education (R²= .074, p=.001), performance status (R²=.055, p=.000), satisfaction with social support (R²=.046, p=.000), and metastasis (R²=.037, p=.000) were predictive of helplessness/hopelessness (R²=.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: Cancer patient, Fighting Spirit, Helplessness

Figures and Tables

Table 1
General Characteristics of the Subject (N=124)
jkan-38-270-i001
Table 2
Mean of the Spiritual Support, Social Support, Fighting Spirit and Helplessness/Hopelessness
jkan-38-270-i002
Table 3
Correlation among the Variables
jkan-38-270-i003
Table 4
Predictors of Fighting Spirit
jkan-38-270-i004

*Cum. R²=Cumulative R².

Table 5
Predictors of Helplessness
jkan-38-270-i005

*Cum. R²=Cumulative R².

Notes

This work was supported by the Sahmyook University Research Foundation Grant.

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