The Meaning of Life and Self-Efficacy in Coping with Cancer

Abstract

Objective: This study was performed to determine the relationship between the cancer patients' level of meaning of life and the level of self-efficacy in coping with cancer, and the factors impacting this relation. Materials and Methods: The sample of this cross-sectional study consisted of 177 adult patients hospitalized in the Medical Oncology Clinic. The data were collected using the Personal Information Form, the Meaning and Purpose in Life Scale (MPLS), and the Cancer Behavior Inventory-Brief Version (CBI-B). Results: A significant difference was determined between the median scores of MPLS and the CBI-B scale in terms of age, marital status, educational status, income status, and employment status of the patients (p<0.05). A statistically positive significant correlation was found between the mean values of MPLS and CBI-B total scores (p<0.05).. Conclusion: As the meaning in the lives of cancer patients increases, their self-efficacy levels in coping with cancer increases.

Keywords

• Cancer
• coping with cancer
• self-efficacy

Kanserle Başa Çıkmada Özyeterlik ve Yaşamın Anlamı

Öz

Amaç: Bu çalışma; kanser hastalarının hayatındaki anlam düzeyi ile kanserle başa çıkmada özyeterlik düzeyleri arasındaki ilişkiyi ve etkileyen faktörleri belirlemek amacıyla yapıldı. Materyal ve Metot: Kesitsel türdeki bu çalışmanın örneklemini Medikal Onkoloji Kliniğinde yatarak tedavi gören, çalışmaya katılmayı kabul eden yetişkin 177 hasta oluşturdu. Veriler Kişisel Bilgi Formu, Hayatın Anlam ve Amacı Ölçeği (MPLS) ve Kanser Davranış Envanteri-Kısa Versiyon (CBI-B) ile toplandı. Bulgular: Hastaların yaşı, medeni durumları, eğitim durumları, gelir durumları ve çalışma durumlarına göre MPLS ve CBI-B ölçek puan ortancaları arasında istatiksel olarak anlamlı bir fark bulundu (p<0.05). MPLS ve CBI-B toplam puan ortalamaları arasında istatistiksel olarak pozitif yönde anlamlı bir ilişki saptandı (p<0.05). Sonuç: Kanser hastalarının hayatlarındaki anlam arttıkça kanserle başa çıkmada özyeterlilik düzeyleri artmaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Kanser
• kanserle başa çıkma
• öz-yeterlik

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