Hope and Life Engagement of Cancer Patıents at the Advanced Stage

Abstract

Introduction: Cancer is a clinical tableau in which many complicated physical and psychological problems are encountered and the individual’s defense mechanism against the process is often shaken. With the deterioration of the prognosis and the progression of the disease, individuals whose belief in healing is reduced may lose their life engagement and hope. Objective: The purpose of this cross-sectional and descriptive study is to determine the level of hope and life engagement of individuals with advanced stage cancer. Methods: The study was conducted with 74 advanced cancer patients who were hospitalized in the oncology, palliative care and surgery clinics of the Trabzon Kanuni Training and Research Hospital, fulfilled the research criteria and signed informed consent forms out of their free will. The data were collected using the “Demographic Information Form,” which included subjective questions, the “Integrative Hope Scale” consisting of four subscales, and the “Life Engagement Scale” in which the level of life engagement was detected. The data were analyzed by using the SPSS program and “ANOVA,” “Independent t-test” and “Correlation test” were used to analyze the relationship between the hope and life engagement scores and variables. The value p<.05 was accepted as statistically significant. Results: The common hope level mean of the patients included in the study was 104.5±6.8 and the common life engagement mean was 23.9±4.9. Correlating the significant differences in the subscales of the scale, the variables affecting the level of hope were determined as “ living place, fear of death, and despair,” and the variables affecting life engagement were determined as “education status, living place, ruefulness, and needing psychological support.” Conclusions: The psychosocial support and solidarity that the individual receives from other individuals in his environment and health care providers positively affects his selfconfidence, hope and life engagement. On the other hand, contrary to the meaning of “I am not afraid of dying,” this statement can be considered an expression of giving up on life. Nurses should focus on the messages underlying what the patients say.

Keywords

• cancer- hope- life engagement