Abstract

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.

• Keywords: Cancer patient; Causal attribution