Health Belief Model on women's cancer recovery (a phenomenological study on cancer survivors)

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to determine how the Health Belief Model approach used by cancer survivors, especially women, in order to survive until after treatment. Method: The data in this research were gathered from in-depth interviews, using content analysis techniques. Results: The findings suggest that the cancer symptom self-detection technique helps them to discover the problem and then seek medical help. The findings also indicate that they tried to do the healthy life behavior during the medical treatment, religious coping that could help to overcome stress as a result of the treatment, family and social support to the cancer survivor, being self-confident of the healthy behavior in helping the medical process. Conclusions: The healthy life behavior when supported with religious coping, can be a good alternative to help cancer patients fight against the disease and survive.

Keywords

• Cancer survivor
• Health Belief Model
• Religious coping