TY - JOUR
T1 - Transitoriness in cancer patients
T2 - A cross-sectional survey of lung and gastrointestinal cancer patients
AU - Shaha, Maya
AU - Pandian, Vinciya
AU - Choti, Michael A.
AU - Stotsky, Eden
AU - Herman, Joseph M.
AU - Khan, Yasmin
AU - Libonati, Carol
AU - Pawlik, Timothy M.
AU - Schulick, Richard D.
AU - Belcher, Anne E.
N1 - Funding Information:
Financial and other disclosures This postdoctoral study was supported by the Swiss Cancer League and the Dorothy Evans Lyne Fund. The supporting institution was the Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing, Baltimore, MD, USA. This work was also supported in part by the Immix Foundation and the Larry “Tex” Silverman Memorial Fund.
PY - 2010/2
Y1 - 2010/2
N2 - Objective: Despite earlier diagnosis and advancements in treatment, cancer remains a leading cause of death in the world (13% of all deaths according to the World Health Organization) among men and women. Cancer accounts for approximately 20% of the deaths in the USA every year. Here, we report the findings from a cross-sectional survey of psychosocial factors in lung and gastrointestinal cancer patients. The aim of the study was to explore the associations among transitoriness, uncertainty, and locus of control (LOC) with quality of life. Transitoriness is defined as a person's confrontation with life's finitude due to a cancer diagnosis. Methods: A total of 126 patients with lung or gastrointestinal cancer completed eight self-reporting questionnaires addressing demographics, spiritual perspective, symptom burden, transitoriness, uncertainty, LOC, and quality of life. Results: Transitoriness, uncertainty, and LOC were significantly associated with one another (r = 0.3267, p = 0.0002/r = 0.1994, p = 0.0252, respectively). LOC/belief in chance has a significant inverse relationship with patients' quality of life (r = -0.2505, p = 0.0047). Transitoriness, uncertainty, and LOC were found to have a significant inverse relationship with patients' quality of life (transitoriness state: r = -0.5363, p = 0.0000/trait: r = -0.4629, p = 0.0000/uncertainty: r = -0.4929, p = 0.0000/internal LOC: r = 0.1759, p = 0.0489/chance LOC: r = -0.2505, p = 0.0047). Conclusion: Transitoriness, uncertainty, and LOC are important concepts as they adversely influence patients' quality of life. Incorporating this finding into the care of cancer patients may provide them with the support they need to cope with treatment and maintenance of a positive quality of life.
AB - Objective: Despite earlier diagnosis and advancements in treatment, cancer remains a leading cause of death in the world (13% of all deaths according to the World Health Organization) among men and women. Cancer accounts for approximately 20% of the deaths in the USA every year. Here, we report the findings from a cross-sectional survey of psychosocial factors in lung and gastrointestinal cancer patients. The aim of the study was to explore the associations among transitoriness, uncertainty, and locus of control (LOC) with quality of life. Transitoriness is defined as a person's confrontation with life's finitude due to a cancer diagnosis. Methods: A total of 126 patients with lung or gastrointestinal cancer completed eight self-reporting questionnaires addressing demographics, spiritual perspective, symptom burden, transitoriness, uncertainty, LOC, and quality of life. Results: Transitoriness, uncertainty, and LOC were significantly associated with one another (r = 0.3267, p = 0.0002/r = 0.1994, p = 0.0252, respectively). LOC/belief in chance has a significant inverse relationship with patients' quality of life (r = -0.2505, p = 0.0047). Transitoriness, uncertainty, and LOC were found to have a significant inverse relationship with patients' quality of life (transitoriness state: r = -0.5363, p = 0.0000/trait: r = -0.4629, p = 0.0000/uncertainty: r = -0.4929, p = 0.0000/internal LOC: r = 0.1759, p = 0.0489/chance LOC: r = -0.2505, p = 0.0047). Conclusion: Transitoriness, uncertainty, and LOC are important concepts as they adversely influence patients' quality of life. Incorporating this finding into the care of cancer patients may provide them with the support they need to cope with treatment and maintenance of a positive quality of life.
KW - Cancer
KW - Cross-sectional survey
KW - Gastrointestinal and lung cancer patients
KW - Psychosocial issues
KW - Quality of life
KW - Transitoriness
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U2 - 10.1007/s00520-010-0815-z
DO - 10.1007/s00520-010-0815-z
M3 - Article
C2 - 21203889
AN - SCOPUS:78651496154
SN - 0941-4355
VL - 19
SP - 271
EP - 279
JO - Supportive Care in Cancer
JF - Supportive Care in Cancer
IS - 2
ER -