RESUMO
PURPOSE: The purposes of this study were to measure the degree of uncertainty in illness, hope, and spiritual well-being and to examine the relationship among uncertainty in illness, hope, and spiritual well-being of cancer patients. METHOD: The data were derived from answers to questionnaires obtained from 93 cancer patients at one general hospital in J area from April 6, 2004 to May 8, 2004. The collected data were analyzed by SSPS 10.0. RESULTS: The mean score of uncertainty in illness of cancer patients was 55.96. The mean score of hope of cancer patients was 79.77, and spiritual well-being was 55.20. Uncertainty in illness of cancer patients was related negatively to hope(r=-.57, p=.000). Also uncertainty in illness of cancer patients was related negatively to spiritual well-being(r=-.57, p=.000). However, hope of cancer patients was related positively to spiritual well-being(r=.67, p=.000). CONCLUSION: Higher uncertainty in illness was related to lower hope and spiritual well-being of cancer patients. Based upon these results, nurses should help patients to improve their hope and spiritual well-being through mediation of uncertainty in illness.