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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