Journal List > Korean J Adult Nurs > v.31(1) > 1116760

Kim and Kim: Concept Analysis of Fighting Spirit in Korean Patients with Cancer

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to better understand the concept of fighting spirit in Korean patients with cancer by identifying its dimensions and attributes and clarifying its definition through concept analysis.

Methods

The hybrid model was used to perform the concept analysis of fighting spirit in patients with cancer. Through a review of 11 studies in the theoretical phase and interviews of 12 patients with cancer in the field phase, the derived results were brought together in the integration phase. The interviews were conducted from April 2017 to March 2018.

Results

The concept of fighting spirit in Korean patients with cancer was found to have four dimensions with eight attributes: personal factors (acceptance, self-control, goals of life, change in belief, and positive attitude), sociocultural factors (supportive relationships), environmental factors (therapeutic environment), and spiritual factors (reliance on faith).

Conclusion

In this study, fighting spirit in Korean patients with cancer was characterized as the belief in overcoming cancer by accepting it as a part of life, having a goal in life, maintaining self-control with a positive attitude, and continuing to maintain health with social and spiritual support in a therapeutic environment. Based on the results, future studies should develop a tool for measuring the fighting spirit of patients with cancer and effective programs for improving patients’ fighting spirit.

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Table 1.
Dimensions, Attributes of Fighting Spirit in Patients with Cancer in Literature Review
Authors, Publication year, [Reference number] Dimensions (attributes)
Greer et al., 1979 [17] Personal (fully accepts the diagnosis of cancer, optimistic attitude, search for information about cancer, determined to fight the disease)
Greer & Watson, 1987 [3] Personal (sees the illness as a challenge, positive attitude towards outcome. seeking information about the disease, taking an active role in recovery, live as normal a life, control over the stress, prognosis is seen as optimistic)
Moorey & Greer, 1989 [24] Personal (sees the diagnosis as a challenge, optimistic view of the future, control over the illness, confrontative coping responses)
Nelson et al., 1989 [25] Personal (belief in the ability to fight back, conquer, recover from cancer)
Watson et al., 1994 [5] Personal (determined to beat disease, very optimistic, illness as a challenge, fight the illness)
Oh et al., 1997 [16] Personal (positive emotions, change of mind), Spiritual (spirituality)
Akechi et al., 1998 [22] Personal (physical status), Sociocultural (social support)
Kim et al., 2005 [8] Personal (hope), Spiritual (believing)
Oh, 2008 [11] Personal (hope, positive belief),
Sociocultural (social support, therapeutic interpersonal relationship), Spiritual (spirituality),
Environmental (aesthetic environment, humor)
Johansson et al., 2012 [26] Personal (actively conquering the cancer, actively seeking information about their disease, actively taking in their treatment)
Patricia et al., 2015 [27] Personal (positive thinking, fight, never lose hope)
Table 2.
Dimensions, Attributes, and Themes of Fighting Spirit in Korean Patients with Cancer in Field Work
Dimensions Attributes Themes
Personal Acceptance Try to learn about cancer and treatment
Accept cancer as a part of life
Focus on the present without worrying
Self-control Strengthen and control my mind
My will to fight against disease is important
Behavioral control
Try hard to overcome cancer
Continuous health management
Goals of life Have a goal in life
Have things to do in the future
Change in belief Recognize the importance of life and health and do best
Have a generous and relaxed attitude
Look back upon my life and try to change
Positive thinking Be considerate to other and help them
Positive thinking helps my health
Live happily doing what I like
Hope that the disease will improve
Sociocultural Supportive relationship Trust the medical team and follow the instructions
Have family or friends to support and take care of me
Appreciate and give love to family and friends
Gain strength from my responsibility and love for my family
Environmental Therapeutic environment Live in an environment I like
Live in an environment that helps my treatment
Do what I like as a diversion
Spiritual Reliance on faith Gain peace of mind through religious life
Gain strength through religious life
My faith is deepening
Table 3.
Dimensions, Attributes of Fighting Spirit in Korean Patients with Cancer in Final Stage
Antecedents Dimensions Theoretical phase Field work phase Integration phase Consequences
Self-efficacy Personal Search for information Accept a diagnosis Acceptance Acceptance Psychosocial adjustment
Control over the illness Self-control Self-control
Challenge
Conquer
Goals of life Goals of life
Change of mind Change in belief Change in belief
Hope Positive thinking Positive attitude
Optimistic
Positive thinking
Sociocultural Social support Supportive relationship Supportive relationship
Environmental Aesthetic environment Therapeutic environment Therapeutic environment
Spiritual Spirituality Reliance on faith Reliance on faith
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