PURPOSE This study was done to identify the influencing factors of spiritual health in patients suffering from women cancers. METHODS The subjects were 130 in woman patients who were diagnosed with women cancer(breast Ca & uterine Ca) at three university hospitals and one general hospital. Data collection was conducted by using 4 questionnaires. The collected data were analyzed using frequency, percentage, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficients, stepwise multiple regression. RESULTS Spiritual health score was middle. There were a significant correlation between spiritual health and depression, pain, fatigue and effects of religion. There were significant differences in spiritual health according to the education level, monthly income, meaning of religion or god, Frequency of attendance at worship. The most powerful predictor of spiritual health was depression(27.2%). Altogether depression, effects of religion, pain, and education level explained 46.1% of spiritual health of women cancer patients. CONCLUSION It suggested that concepts of depression, effects of religion, pain, and education level should be considered in developing spiritual health promoting program for women cancer patients.
PURPOSE This study was to identify the level of quality of life in patients with woman cancer across treatment phases. METHODS The research method was a cross-sectional descriptive study. Data was collected by questionnaires from 226 female, who were in- and out-patients. They were diagnosed with breast and uterine cancer from three university hospitals and two general hospitals. The instruments used for this study included, "the Quality Of Life Scale(QOL)". The collected data were analyzed using Frequency, Percentage, ANOVA, Two-Way ANOVA. RESULTS Quality of life of women cancer patients was significantly different according to three treatment phases. Quality of life of women cancer patients was not significantly different according to areas of disease in the three treatment phases. Quality of life of women cancer patients was significantly different according to level of fatigue in the three treatment phases. Quality of life of women cancer patients was significantly different according to level of perceived health status in the three treatment phases(F=60.14, p=.000). Quality of life of women cancer patients was significantly different according to education level(F=3.70, p=.027) & occupation(F=5.67, p=.018) in three treatment phases. CONCLUSION Strategies for intervention are needed to improve the quality of life in women cancer patients across the treatment phases. The significant several characteristics of affecting on quality of life across treatment phases should be considered in sociopsychological nursing intervention.
PURPOSE The purpose of this study were to investigate the self-reported quality of life and family burden and to examine the factors associated with the quality of life in patients with cancer. METHODS 216 patients participated in the cross-sectional study. The European Group of Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) and the Family Burden Scale were sent by mail to 2,000 cancer patients. Two hundred and sixteen patients answered the questionnaire. The stepwise multiple regression was conducted to analyze predictors of overall quality of life. RESULTS All subscales of EORTC QLQ-C30 were significantly correlated with family burden. The regression analysis of patients with cancer revealed some variables as significant predictors; performance, perceived severity, family burden, time since diagnosis, and sex. CONCLUSION The results offer a number of recommendations for future research and nursing practice focused on primary care for patients with cancer and their family for improving quality of life.
PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to propose a theoretical model of hope commonly held by the cancer patients just after surgery, under the assumptions that hope of those patients is not only realistic and disease oriented but in dialectical circulation. METHOD A theoretical model was generated through 4 steps: exploring a hope structure by synthesizing the relevant hope structures expressed in Kim and Tae's studies, in-depth literature review, examining the meanings of the concepts consisted of the structure in use and their causal relations in logical adequacy, proposing a theoretical structure through synthesizing the causal relations, and diagramming the structure. RESULTS The proposed theoretical model involves concepts such as Cancer Related Uncertainty (CRU), Efforts to Find out the Possibility of Cure or Recovery (EFPCR), and Hopefulness or Hopelessness. The 'EFPCR' is stipulated as 'Behaviors Related to Looking for Evidences or Cues (BRLEC)' and 'Formation of Cognitive Schema (FCS)'. In the model, Hopefulness is directly influenced by 'CRU in low', which is affected by 'FCS in good' from the result of EFPCR started with 'CRU in increase' while 'CRU with increase' from the result from EFPCR has direct effect on Hopelessness. CONCLUSION The theoretical model would be used to enhancing hope of the cancer patients in post-operation.
PURPOSE The study was to identify the relationship between the spiritual well-being, family support and depression in cancer patients. METHOD: Data were collected by questionnaires from 116 inpatients with cancer at one university hospital in J area using Spiritual Well-being Scale, Family Support Scale, and BDI. The collected data were analyzed by SPSS WIN 12.0 program. RESULT: 1) The mean scores of well-being, family support, and depression were 107.28, 41.14, and 16.79 respectively. 2) There were significant differences in the spiritual well-being by age, education, religion, and social group. There were significant differences in the family support by age, education, and number of admission. There were significant differences in the depression by occupation and social group. 3) Depression was significantly correlated with spiritual well-being, and family support. 4) The most signifiant predictor which influenced depression in cancer patients was spiritual well-being, followed by occupation, age, family support. CONCLUSION: These results suggested that providing spiritual nursing intervention and enhancing family support will effectively decrease depression in cancer patients.
This study was conducted to develop and evaluate guidelines for cancer patients' symptoms management such as nausea/vomiting, fatigue, constipation, diarrhea, and oral mucositis. Based on the literature review, assessment path to identify each stage of five symptoms were also developed. Guidelines for symptom management of each stage of the symptoms were developed. Guidelines then were evaluated by a panel of experts. Finally, 95 cancer patients were recruited and asked to use the guidelines for their symptom management Levels of understanding of and satisfaction with assessment path and management guidelines were surveyed. Prevalence rate of five symptoms varied ranging from 20% (diarrhea) to 47% (nausea/vomiting). Regarding the level of understanding of each symptom most of the cancer patients indicated that they were easy and sufficient. Regarding the easiness of use of the symptom management guidelines, most of cancer patients indicated that they were easy to use. Regarding the nursing intervention on each symptom, most of cancer patients indicated that they were easy and helpful. More information was added with feedback from the patients. The result of this study has implications on development of customized patient education materials based on assessment path and symptom management guidelines.
PURPOSE The study was undertaken to examine the degree of nurse's suffering experience and to identify the influencing factors on nurses' suffering experience in Korea. METHOD: Data were collected using a questionnaire for 271 nurses working at 5 general hospitals in Daegu and Kyung-book province from Sep. 1, to Sep. 30, 2003. The questionnaire consists of 54 items, general characteristics(10) and nurse's suffering experience(44). All surveys were sorted and studied by frequency analysis, mean score, standard deviation, range, independent t-test, one way ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficient and Multiple regression. RESULT: The findings of this survey indicate 1) The degree of suffering experienced by nurses caring for terminal cancer patients was 2.96; 2) Demographic variables affecting the degree of nurses' suffering experience were age(F=5.62, p=.000), marital status(F=20.53, p=.000), religion(F=5.44, p=.020), career of clinical experience(F=6.96, p=.000), and feelings of end-life care(F=3.11, p=.016); 3) There were slight correlation between the subitem of nurse's suffering experience and general characteristics of subjects. For 'expanding self consciousness', age, career duration, and position; for 'forming empathy with family', age and career duration ; for 'spiritual sublimation', age, and career duration were affected variables. 4) As a result of the multiple regression analysis for predictable variables affecting nurses' suffering, it was found that 'career of clinical experience' was most significant(F=23.100, p=.000). The explanatory power of this regression formula was 17.6%. CONCLUSION: This study can provide the basic data useful towards improvement of nursing services for terminal cancer patients and the health of the nurse.
PURPOSE The purpose of this study is to investigate fatigue and its related factors in cancer patients receiving radiotherapy. METHOD: The subjects of this study consisted of 98 patients receiving radiotherapy. Subjects were recruited from C University Hospital radiation oncology unit located in Gwangju from March to May, 2001. Questionnaire and medical records were used for data collection. The obtained data was analyzed using SAS program that included descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Post-hoc test(Fisher's LSD) and Pearson's correlation coefficients. RESULT: The fatigue perceived by the subjects was middle level (5.59 +/- 1.59) and 72.4% of them reported greater than 5 points. The subjects in no religion, low income, and spouse caregiver groups experienced the higher fatigue than another groups, respectively. The subjects in nasopharyngeal cancer, head & neck radiation site, and analgesics medication groups did, experience fatigue as well. The fatigue not only positively correlated with symptom distress, disruption of usual activity, sleep dissatisfaction, and mood state, but also negatively with less family support. CONCLUSION: Cancer patients receiving radiotherapy experience the middle level of fatigue and it correlates with the multi-dimensional factors. However, further research is needed to identify the changes in fatigue over the radiotherapy period through longitudinal design and to develop nursing intervention for fatigue decrease.
PURPOSE All nurses should provide spiritual care for their clients. It is especially important to care spiritually for cancer patients facing the crisis of life. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to analyze the concept of spirituality which is one of the basic concepts for spiritual care in cancer patients. METHOD: The subjects of this study were 8 cancer patients; 2 Christians,3 Buddhists, and 3 persons who did not have any religion. The data was collected and analyzed by Hybrid Model. RESULT: The results of this study were as follows: Dimensions of spirituality(vertical dimension connected with the absolute being, horizontal dimension related to others, existential dimension related to seeking of meaning), attributes of spirituality(dynamic process strengthened in suffering due to struggle with cancer, connectedness with the absolute being or will and belief in oneself, transcendence of reality, meaning and purpose of life, future oriented), outcomes of spirituality(intrinsic, behavioral). CONCLUSION: The spirituality of cancer patients is manifested differently by his(her) religion, age, past experiences and burden of family, and is able to be strengthened with cancer. Therefore, nurses should recognize that diagnosis and deterioration of cancer is not only a spiritual crisis but can be a good chance for spiritual growth, as well.
PUPPOSE: The purposes of the study were 1) to examine what relationships exist between PTE(perceived treatments effect) and PPS (perceived physical suffering) as the independent variables and hope as the dependent variable and 2) to examine whether PTE and PPS predict hope in cancer patients in their post-operative period within the Stotland's hope theory. METHOD The Visual Analog Scale was used for measuring PTE and PPS and the Kim and Lee's Hope Scale which had acceptable reliability and validity was used for measuring hope. The data was collected from 38 hospitalized cancer patients who were in the post-operative period with a convenient sampling method. RESULT There was a significant positive relationship between hope and the PTE in the low PTE group. There was a significant negative relationship between hope and the PPS in the low PPS group. There were no significant relationships between hope and the PTE in the high PTE group, and between hope and the PPS in the high PPS group. And the PTE explained hope with 71.2% of the variance in the low PTE group. CONCLUSION PTE in the low PTE group and PPS in the low PPS group were identified as the factors to explain hope.
PURPOSE The purpose of the study was to compare symptoms, medical therapies, and nursing interventions with terminal cancer patients during the last four weeks of their lives in a hospice unit and general units. METHOD For the descriptive survey study, data were collected by reviewing the medical records of 243 patients who died of terminal cancer at K hospital in Seoul. The data was analyzed by using Chi-square test and t-test. RESULT The study findings are summarized as follows: There were higher frequencies in physical symptoms of constipation, itching sensation, pain, sleeping disturbance, soreness and dysuria for those patients in the hospice unit than those patient in general units. All emotional symptoms were recorded significantly higher for those patients in the hospice unit than those in general units. Regarding the major medical interventions, pain management was used more significantly for those patients in the hospice unit, but antibiotic therapy and resuscitation were used more significantly for those patients in general units. CONCLUSION The hospice unit provided more comprehensive nursing interventions including psychological, spiritual, and family cares as well as physiological care for terminal cancer patients. The facts showed that those patients who would need hospice care in general units should be referred to the hospice unit at an appropriate time.
PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to identify the relationship of fatigue and quality of sleep in patients with cancer. METHOD The data was collected from January to February 2001. Study objects were recruited K university hospital in Busan, Korea. Their fatigue was measured using the Revised Piper Fatigue Scale developed by Piper et. al(1998), and quality of sleep was measured using Quality of Sleep Questionare by Oh et. al(1998). RESULT 1) The fatigue score was mean 114.80+/-34.88(range: 22-220). The sub dimension that showed behavior/severity score at 33.70+/-13.89, affective score at 24.23+/-3.33, sensory score at 27.74+/-12.51, and cognitive/mood score at 29.11+/-3.71. And sleep quality score was mean 37.32+/-8.18. 2) There was a significant difference in religion(F=4.157, P= .008), present therapy(F=2.536, P= .043), past therapy(F= 6.625, P= .000), major caregiver(F=3.133, P= .028), and change of weight(F=7.965, P= .006), according to general characteristics in the fatigue in patients with cancer. 3) There was a significant difference in present pain(t=-2.103, P= .037) and change of weight(F=5.484, P= .005), according to general characteristics in the sleep quality in patients with cancer. 4) There was a significant negative correlation between fatigue and quality of sleep(r=- .340, P= .000). CONCLUSION Patients with cancer experience in fatigue. Increase in fatigue are associated with decreases in quality of sleep. Nurses must provide patients with nursing care about the occurrence of fatigue and interventions to deal with sleep disturbance.
PURPOSE Fatigue is one of the most common complaints of cancer patients. In this study, we analyzed the change of fatigue level and general symptoms as time go by, so that, we could explain more on the mechanism and change of fatigue in relation with treatment, and explore the influencing factors. METHOD The subjects of this study were 50 GI cancer patients who have visited the cancer center of A hospital in Suwon. We measured fatigue by using the Revised Piper Fatigue Scale(RPFS) at the time of starting and finishing induction chemotherapy, and starting the 2nd cycle of chemotherapy. RESULTS 1) The fatigue score was 2.81, 3.73, and 3.82 in a 10 point scale at the time of starting and finishing induction chemotherapy, and starting the 2nd chemotherapy, respectively. This means fatigue persisted until after the treatment. 2) Fifty two percent of participants complained of some kinds of symptoms when starting the treatment, and the proportion increased up to 92% when finishing the treatment. 3) Fatigue scores were significantly high in patients with fatigue-related symptoms than for patients without those symptoms. 4) Fatigue scores showed significant differences according to patients' general characteristics such as age, educational level, economic status, occupation, diagnosis, hematocrit, weight, and amount of sleepy. CONCLUSION We have to develop intervention strategies to reduce fatigue in cancer patients in the consideration of influencing factors.
PURPOSE The purpose of this study is to identify factors of the causal attribution of cancer and to determine related variables. METHOD Subjects were one hundred and thirty three cancer patients. The tool of the perceived causal attribution used was developed by authors and basically founded on Kim's work(1993). The SAS program was used to analyze the data along with descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Duncan's Multiple range test, and Principal component analysis and varimax rotation. RESULTS 1) The perceived causal attribution measurement revealed four factors; overload, destiny, stress, and constitution. The total percentage of variance explained by the four factors was 44.3%. 2) The scores of destiny on women, having religion, unemployed, lower level of education, no spouse, groups of uterine cervix and lung cancer, not receiving an operation and receiving radiation were significantly higher than those other groups. 3) The scores of stress on women, having religion, and not having a job were significantly higher than those on men, without religion, and having a job. 4) The scores of constitution on those in their forties, women, not receiving an operation and receiving radiation were significantly higher than for those in their sixties, men, receiving operation and not receiving radiation. There was no significant difference in the factor scores of overload by any variables. CONCLUSION Factors of the perceived causal attribution of cancer among Korean cancer patients were overload, destiny, stress, and constitution. The scores of each factor the perceived causal attribution was significantly different by general and disease related characteristics.
The purpose of this study was to identify correlation of stress, coping patterns and physical symptoms in cancer patient's caregiver. The stress was measured by VAS( Visual Analogue Scale). The coping methods were measured using the modified Ways of Coping Questionnaire by Yang (1998) and the actual physical symptoms were investigated. The phases of patient illness consisted of 1st (initial) stage, and 2nd (recurred) stage and 3rd (terminal) stage based on literature (Lewandowski & Jones, 1988). The data were collected by a survey conducted from March to July, 2000 and which included 196 cancer patients' caregivers from two hospitals in Seoul. The data were analyzed using paired t-test, unpaired t-test, ANOVA, Scheffe test and Pearson correlation coefficient. The results were as follows: 1. The average of caregivers' stress scores was 62.5. Problem-focused coping methods were significantly used more than emotion-focused coping methods by the cancer patients' caregiver. The mean number of caregivers' physical symptom was 1.03. 2. There were significantly high level of stress in women, those who were more than 60 years old, those who had a low education level, those who had no job, those who are patients' wives' and those who are terminal patients' caregiver. There were significantly low levels of coping in women, those who were more than 60 years old, those who had low education levels, those who had no job and those who are patients' wives. There were significantly higher number of physical symptoms in women, and those who have no job. 3. Caregivers' stress was significantly correlated to problem-focused coping methods (r=-.21, p=.006), and physical symptom (r=-.28, p=.0001). In conclusion, attempts to develop nursing interventions for cancer patients' caregiver in women, those who are more than 60 years old, with a low education level, have no job, and are cancer patients' wives could have an improvement on positive coping methods and provide relaxation from stress in the patients' experience.
This study was undertaken to develop an instrument to be used for measuring the concept of quality of life of Korean patients with cancer multidimensionary and correctly. It can contribute in holistic nursing care for Korean cancer patients and also provide and validate basic data to help oncology nurses measure the outcome of nursing intervention correctly. To develop this instrument, the researchers first estabilished a conceptual framework based on the results of qualitative data analysis and indepth interview method Development of the scale was conducted using a method in which 31 items were assessed by subjects' self report using linear analogue scales. The subjects were 79 D.M. patients, 103 patients with acute illness, and 91 cancer patients residing in Busan, Korea. Data were collected during the period from July, 24 to August 14, 2000. This instrument consisted of 31 items with a self report scale. This instrument covered 4 dimensions of cancer patients : 1) physical wellbeing 2) psychological wellbeing 3) social wellbeing and 4)spiritual wellbeing. Each item had a possible score of 10. The reliability of the scale was tested with Cronbach's alpha. Validity was evaluated by examining the relationships of this scale, Youn's Quality of Life Questionnare scores and the Simple Quality of Life scale. Two separate runs of multiple regression were used to predict scores on the Simple Quality of Life measurement. Further validation was obtained by examining the correlation between the instrument subscores and Youn's Quality of Life measurement subscore for convergence of this scale. Examination of the discriminant. power of the instrument was done using ANOVA test. The results are summarized as follows: 1. The reliability of the instrument for the quality of life was 0.8321(Cronbach's alpha.), physical wellbeing dimension 0.6343, psychological wellbeing dimension 0.6501, spiritual wellbeing dimension 0.5883. 2. This instrument had a high correlation with Youn's Quality of Life measurement(r= 0.636) in cancer patients, whereas it had a low correlation with Simple Quality of Life measurement(r=0.455) in cancer patients. In the D.M. patients, the instrument correlated with both the Youn's Quality of Life measurement and Simple Quality of life measurement(r=0.313, r= 0.407) and in the acute stage patients, the instrument had no correlation. 3.Multiple regression of individual items on the Simple Quality of Life scores accounted for 56.8% of the variance in the Simple Quality of Life measurement, whereas, Youn's Quality of Life measurement scores accounts for 31.7%. 4. The correlations collected from the three group had the same patterns of variations but especially the instrument developed in this study had higher disciminant power than that of Youn's Quality of Life Measurement.
It has been believed that cancer is an omnious factor threatening the future and life itself. Patients having the disease experience anxiety, fear, feeling of weakness, depression and feelings of uncertainty and hopelessness. Most cancer patients, however, have expectations of possible recovery and a better future, very different from the patients who feel hopeless. Therefore. hope allows people to respond effectively to the fatal disease they have and prevents them from detoriorating physically and spiritually, positively influencing their survival, response to treatment and sense of security. Studies previously performed showed that hope is positively correlated with social and family supports, self-esteem, spiritual well-being, responsive action, health promotion behavior and quality of life. Thus, the study attempted to provide basic information on nursing cancer patients by investigating their levels of hope and determining predictive factors which influence hope. For the study 200 cancer patients in two university hospitals located in Pusan were sampled as subjects. Data were collected for twenty nine days from Feburary 1, 1999 to March 1. Instrumets for the study included 10 items from the self-esteem scale by Rosenberg (1965), 39 hope measurements by Kim and Lee(1965), 16 of the social support scale by Tae(1986) and 16 of the general characteristics scale, all of which totaled 81 items. The data were analyzed using the SPSS program. General characteristics of the investigated based on numbers and percentage. Hope, self-esteem and social support were analyzed using means, minimum, maximum and standard deviation. Relations among the foregoing three factors were analyzed using Pearson' correlation coefficient. Levels of hope in cancer patients were determined using t-test, ANOVA and Scheffe test. Predictive factors influencing hope were investigated using multiple stepwise regression analysis. Results of the study are summarized as follows: 1. An average level of hope was 185.55+/-23.39 points(96 min. and 234 max.) 2.Levels of hope showed a significant difference among them according to sex (t=-3.69, P=.000), age(F=4.714, P=.000), job(F=3.247, P=.008), monthly income (F=6.113, P=.003), treatment charge (F=3.796, P=.011), supportive resources (F=10.554, P=.000), diagnosis(F=2.287, P=.029), perceived health status(F=22.184, P=.000), level of pain(F=3.334, P=.021), religion (F=4.911, P=.001) and religion's effect in life (F=11.706, P=.000), 3. For the subjects, self-esteem and social support were 38.32+/-7.21(13 min, and 50 max.) and 52.97+/-8.49points(28 min, 80 max.). Concerning social support, average levels of family support and medical support were found 35.95+/-6.05(18 min, and 40 max) and 27.02+/-4.99 points(20 min and 40 max). The hope the cancer patients showed significant correlations with self-esteem (r=.588, P=.000), family support(r=.224, p=.001) and medical support(r=.221, P=.002). 4.The five variables related to hope (self-esteem, religion's effect in life, perceived health status, social support and age) accounted for 54.2 percent of the hope level; especially, self-esteem was the highest at 34.6%. As shown in the above results, predictive factors which most influence hope in cancer patients were self-esteem and religion's effect of life. Therefore, nursing interventions to increase self-esteem should be developed. Regarding religion's effects, studies on spiritual aspects should be carried out in a way that contributes to promotion of hope.
The purpose of this study was to define the degree of the resourcefulness and the health-promoting behavior of cancer patients, to identify the relationship between the resourcefulness and the health promoting behaviors and to provide the basis for strategic nursing intervention. This study was conducted by an exploratory survey. Data were collected by self-reported questionnaires from 97 cancer patients in a university hospital in Tae-Gu from September to December of 1998. The sample data were collected by using a convenient sampling method. The following instruments were used in the study after some adaptation: Park Chai Soon's Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile, Oh Pok Ja's instrument for health promotion behavior and the Rosenbaum self-control schedule(SCS). The reliability of instruments was tested with Chronbach'alph(.79-.89). Data was analyzed by using the SAS program. T-test, ANOVA, and Pearson's coefficients of correlation. The results of this study were as follows: First, the average score of the resourcefulness variable was 22.20; the range of the score was from -30 to +81 The average score of the performance in the health promoting behavior variable was 96.13; the range of the score was from 39 to 137 Second, the resourcefulness variable was significantly different from such demographic factors as gender and perceived health status, but there was no statistically significant difference between the demographic factors and the health promoting behavior variable, except that of perceived health status. Third, the performance in health promoting behavior of cancer patients was significantly correlated with the resourcefulness of cancer patients(r= .50) In conclusion, resourcefulness was identified to be an important variable that could contribute to promote health-promoting behavior.
The effects of the mouth care using cool normal saline on oral discomfort were investigated in 40 patients on chemotherapy. The subjects were divided into two groups, one was experimental group(N=20) in which the subjects were provided mouth care with cool normal saline, the other was the control group(N=20). The data was collected from June. 20 to Oct. 30 in 1998. Oral discomfort was measured by Self Reported Oral Discomfort Assessment Instrument developed by Jung(1995) and Oral Assessment Guide (OAG) Instrument developed by UNMC. Collected data were analyzed by means of frequency, percentage, standard deviation, chi-squre test, t-test. The results were summarized as follows: 1. 'The experimental group which recieved oral care with cool normal saline shoud be lower self reported oral discomfort on 3, 5, 7, 14 days after chemotherapy was supported (p=.025-.000). 2. 'The experimental group which recieved oral care with cool normal saline shoud be lower observational symptom oral discomfort on 3, 5 days after chemotherapy was not supported, but on 7, 14 days after chemotherapy was supported(p=.0011, 0.001). In conclusion, the patient who recieved oral care with cool normal saline showed the decrease in degree of oral discomfort of cancer patient undergoing chemotherapy. So oral care with cool normal saline had been judged the nursing intervention to improve oral discomfort of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.
This study will test one's spiritual well-being which can be an effective hope factor, and, if so found, suggests the importance of such factors in healing cancer. From this research, a total of 97 samples were used, either hospitalized in or outpatients of the general hospitals in Seoul. The hope scale proposed by Paloutzion and Ellison(1982) and Nowotny's Hope Scale(1989) was used. Data was collected from February to April 1998 to be processed by the SAS statistical package. The study has resulted as follows: 1. The average score and the standard deviation of the overall spiritual well-being recorded 82.36 +/- 15.93, with religious and existential sectors being 40.81 +/- 10.27 and 41.55 +/- 7.72, respectively. 2. The spiritual well-being scores differed significantly according to the sample's level of education, religion, belief, the length of period of religious practices, and the frequency of participation in the religious meeting. 3. THe hope score of the sampled cancer patients showed an average of 82.94 with the standard deviation of 10.27. 4. The demographic characteristics were found to have resulted in a significant difference in the hope scores in such areas as religion and strength of the faith. 5. The hypothesis was supported that the spiritual well-being has a positive effect on the patient's hope (r=.632, p=.0001). 6. A multiple regression analysis indicated that the existential well-being(50%), age(5%), and the religious well-being(2%) significantly explained the hope scores. Viewing that religion and faith contributed significantly to a patient's spiritual well-being and hope, nurses should better regard and furthermore encourage the religious life of the cancer patient. Also suggested is that spiritual caring proven very effective by this study be applied actively in enhancing the hope for the cancer patients.
Cancer has been the leading cause of death in this country and produces high levels of stress not only in the patients themselves but also in their families. Caregiving during serious illness is a new experience for many family caregivers and social support and coping strategies have been found to reduce unfavorable health outcomes to stressful events such as cancer. The purpose of this investigation was to identify the relationship of caregiving stress, coping methods, social support, and health in caregivers of patients with cancer according to the phases of cancer illness. The subjects were 92 primary cargivers of cancer patients based on their phases of illness that consisted of 1st (initial) stage, 2nd (metastatic or recurring) stage, 3rd (terminal) stage recruited from two general hospitals in Seoul and Choongnam. The mean age of subjects was 39.1 years and 64.1% of subjects were female and 72.8% were married. The relationships to the patient were children(50%) or spouses (45.7%). According as the phase of illness progressed, caregiver's stress rose higher and their health got worse but coping methods and social support did not show a significant change. In the 1st stage the major predictors for the health of caregivers were family network support(R2=0.261, p=0.003) and the stress of the caregivers (R2=0.168, P=0.007). In the 2nd stage the most important predictor for the health of the caregivers was the stress of the caregivers (R2=0.483, P=0.000). Also in the 3rd stage the main predictor for health was the stress of the caregivers (R2=0.381, p=0.006). A better understanding of the stress process in family caregivers is needed so that nurses can provide family-centered care, taking into account caregiver, as well as patient, well-being.