An Exploratory Study of Hope Structures of the Newly Diagnosed Cancer Patients

Park, Moon Kyoung; Kim, Dal Sook

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study was to explore the hope structures of the newly diagnosed cancer patients by examining the relationships between hope and the three concepts of 'Personal Spirit', 'Risk' and 'Authentic Caring' which composed the multidimensions of the Nekolaichuk and Bruera's hope model.
METHODS
Data was collected via survey from 32 newly diagnosed cancer patients. The perceived meaning of life (PML) for 'personal spirit', perceived confidence in cure (PCC) for 'risk', and perceived family support (PFS) and perceived support from medical team (PSM) for 'authentic caring' were adapted from the definitions of the concepts in the model. Hope, PML, and PCC were measured with VAS. PFS and PSM were measured with Korean version of 'Cobb's family support scale', which was modified by Kang. Pearson correlation coefficients were used to identify the relationships among the concepts.
RESULTS
The significant relationships were revealed between hope and PCC (p<.001), hope and PML (p<.001), PML and PCC (p<.001), PFS and PML (p=.030), and PSM and PML (p=.047).
CONCLUSION
The newly diagnosed cancer patients experience hope in different ways. The cancer patients' hope immediate after diagnosis, however, is most likely to be experienced as seeking balance between uncertainty about cancer treatment and the meaning of life.