Preoperative Uncertainty, Meaning of Life, and Anxiety in Cancer Patients
10.12934/jkpmhn.2018.27.3.208
- Author:
Kyungmi YOUN
1
;
Jongeun LEE
Author Information
1. Nurse, Chungbuk National University Hospital, Cheongju, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Neoplasms;
Preoperative period;
Uncertainty;
Life;
Anxiety
- MeSH:
Adult;
Anxiety;
Breast;
Colorectal Neoplasms;
Humans;
Linear Models;
Nursing;
Preoperative Period;
Thyroid Gland;
Uncertainty
- From:Journal of Korean Academy of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing
2018;27(3):208-215
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate relationships among uncertainty, meaning of life, and anxiety in preoperative cancer patients. METHODS: Study participants were 90 adult patients with thyroid, breast, gastric, or colorectal cancer who were admitted to the general surgery ward and daily operation center in a university-affiliated hospital. Data were collected using Mishel's Uncertainty in Illness Scale, Meaning in Life Questionnaire, and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Data were analyzed using t-tests, one-way ANOVAs, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and a multivariate linear regression analysis (backward stepwise) with SPSS version 24. RESULTS: Anxiety showed a positive correlation with uncertainty in illness (r=.59, p < .001) and a negative correlation with meaning of life (r=−.49, p < .001), and uncertainty had a negative correlation with meaning of life (r=−53, p < .001). The regression model explained 40.0% variance of preoperative cancer patients' anxiety (F=20.55, p < .001). Significant factors were uncertainty (β=.43, p < .001), meaning of life (β=−.20, p < .001), and low income level (β=.18, p < .001). CONCLUSION: Our study's findings show that cancer patients' anxiety can be reduced within 24 hours before surgery through psychological nursing interventions aimed at reducing uncertainty and improving the meaning of life.
