A Conceptual Analysis of Cancer Survivorship

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify attributes of the concept of cancer survivorship. METHODS: Walker & Avant's concept analysis framework (2005) was used to review the medical & nursing text books, medical and nursing research articles related to cancer survivorship and published from 1985 to 2011. RESULTS: There were nine aspects of the concept of cancer survivorship A process, liminality, uncertainty, life-changing experience, complexity, unique experience, duality of positive and negative aspects, partnership, and need for support. Antecedents of cancer survivorship were cancer diagnosis and perception as a cancer survivor. Empirical referents of cancer survivorship were survival rate, quality of life, adaptation to the survivorship experience, and health-related hardiness, social support, spirituality, and health behavior. The consequences of cancer survivorship were effects on the physical, psychosocial, spiritual and socio-economic well-being of the patients. CONCLUSION: This concept analysis of cancer survivorship is expected to contribute to promotion of survivorship care in the clinical field by removing conceptual ambiguity and confirming the true meaning of survivorship care.