Factors Related to Uncertainty in Breast Cancer Survivors
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Abstract
Purpose: To study the factors associated with uncertainty in illness among breast cancer survivors.
Design: Descriptive correlation research.
Methods: The participants were one hundred and thirty-five of female breast cancer survivors aged 20 to 60 years. The instruments used for data collection included the personal information questionnaire, the Mischel’s Uncertainty in Illness Scale: Community form, Fear of Cancer Recurrence Inventory short-form, health literacy, social support. and Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale: MSAS-SF questionnaires. Data was analyzed using Pearson’s production-moment correlation.
Results: The study findings revealed that breast cancer survivors had a moderate level of uncertainty in illness (=69.04, SD=11.78). Education level was significantly negatively correlated with uncertainty in illness (r=-400, p<.05). There was a significant positive correlation (r=.324, p<.05) between symptom distress and uncertainty in illness, but a significant negative correlation (r=.380, p<.05) between fear of cancer recurrence and uncertainty in illness in breast cancer survivors.
Conclusion: Nurses can assessment these factors such as symptoms, symptom distress, and fear of cancer recurrence, which can affect uncertainty in illness among breast cancer survivors. It will help healthcare providers in developing nursing care plans to prevent uncertainty in illness and complications in the future.
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
ลิขสิทธิ์ของบทความที่ตีพิมพ์เป็นของวารสารพยาบาลศาสตร์ จุฬาลงกรณ์มหาวิทยาลัย ทั้งฉบับตีพิมพ์เป็นรูปเล่มและเอกสารออนไลน์
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