Hopelessness and Fighting Spirit Relation with Illness Perception in Breast Cancer Patients / Relación de la Desesperanza y el Espíritu de Lucha con la Percepción de Enfermedad en Pacientes con Cáncer de Mama

Objective: Breast cancer is related to numerous psychological challenges, so the way of coping with the illness and its consequences may influence the outcome of treatment. Also, while confronting the diagnosis individuals will use their own illness perception in order to evaluate the possibility of healing and that can affect different areas of their functioning. The aim was to examine the degree to which women with breast cancer perceived their illness as threatening, as well as to examine potential predictive power of illness perception on strategies of coping with illness (hopelessness and fighting spirit). Method: 102 patients (Mage = 58.64, SDage = 10.143), who were hospitalized at the Center for Oncology and Radiology, for treatment of previously diagnosed breast cancer (Mmonths= 19.07, SDmonths = 23.49), were included in the study. The instruments included sociodemographic questionnaire, medical records, Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire and the Mini-Mental Adjustment to Cancer scale. Results: Patients declared to use fighting spirit more than hopeless style of coping the illness. Model that included Illness perception, Metastasis and Treatment length predicted 16% of Fighting Spirit variance. Model that included Illness perception and Age predicted 39% of Hopelessness variance. Conclusion: Illness perception can predict the tendency to resort to hopelessness and there is a correlation between certain sociodemographic and clinical characteristics with hopelessness and fighting spirit coping styles (AU)

Objetivo: El cáncer de mama se asocia a una serie de cambios psicológicos, el modo de afrontamiento la enfermedad y sus consecuencias puede influir en el resultado del tratamiento. Además, al afrontar el diagnóstico las personas utilizarán su propia percepción de la enfermedad para evaluar la posibilidad de curación, lo que puede afectar diferentes aspectos de su funcionamiento. El objetivo del presente estudio es examinar el nivel en el que las mujeres con cáncer de mama perciben su enfermedad como amenaza, además de examinar el posible valor predictivo de la percepción de la enfermedad en las estrategias del afrontamiento con la enfermedad (desesperanza y espíritu de lucha). Método:102 pacientes (Medad = 58,64; SDedad= 10,143) incluídos en la investigación, todos internados en el Centros de Oncología y Radioradio, para tratamiento (Mmonths = 19,07, SDmonths = 23,49) del cáncer mamario previamente diagnosticado. Los instrumentos incluyeron un cuestionario sociográfico, registros médicos, El Cuestionario Breve de Percepción de la Enfermedad y La Escala-Mini de Ajuste Mental al Cáncer. Resultados: Las pacientes afirmaron que utilizan más el espíritu combativo que la desesperación para afrontar la enfermedad. El modelo que incluía la percepción de la enfermedad, metástasis y duración del tratamiento pronosticó 16% de la divergencia del Espíritu Combativo. El modelo que incluía la percepción de la enfermedad y la edad pronosticó 39% de la divergencia de la desesperación. Conclusión:La percepción de la enfermedad puede pronosticar la tendencia hacia la desesperación; además, existe la relación entre ciertas características sociodemográficas y clínicas y ciertos mecanismos de afrontar la enfermedad, como son la desesperación o el espíritu combativo (AU)

Association between quality of life and positive coping strategies in breast cancer patients.

According to the World Health Organization, breast cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers in the Hispanic female population, and it carries a great psychological impact. Acceptance and personal learning derived from the individual's life experiences and understanding of their emotional state has been suggested as an adaptive profile toward the patient's perception of the disease. This study aims to explore which psychological variables are related to breast cancer patients' perception of their quality of life. A cross-sectional, correlational, and non-probabilistic study was performed on 113 women diagnosed with stage 1-3 breast cancer in Mexico and Spain, based on self-reporting through the Mental Adjustment to Cancer Scale, the Positive and Negative Affect Scale, and the EORTC Quality of Life Questionnaire. Recruitment was conducted from March 2015 to April 2018. Through multiple regression analysis, the study found that fighting spirit and positive affect explained 34.2% of quality of life variance F (2, 110) = 30.14, p <.005 of participants. The results support the need to contemplate the importance of positive psychological variables for a multidisciplinary approach to women diagnosed with breast cancer.

Association between demographic features and perceived social support in the mental adjustment to breast cancer.

OBJECTIVE: The mental adjustment to a breast cancer diagnosis is traumatic and stressful, with wide-ranging differences in the responses observed in Indian women. We investigated the association between demographic features and perceived social support during the adjustment of patients to breast cancer. METHODS: A total of 393 patients with breast cancer were included in the study. The patients were evaluated for mental adjustment to cancer and perceived social support on the Mental Adjustment to Cancer Scale and Multidimensional Scale of perceived social support. Regression analysis and bivariate correlation were performed to discern significant demographic features and social support in association with the adjustment to having breast cancer. RESULTS: Multiple regression analysis revealed that mental adjustment factors accounted for 43% of the variance in fighting spirit and 41% of the variance in helplessness/hopelessness. The results of the multiple regression analysis suggested that age (t = -10.27, P < 0.000) and marital status (t = 3.03, P < 0.000) were predictive of patients' fighting spirit. Age was inversely (t = 9.81, P < 0.01) associated with fighting spirit, whereas family income (t = -3.82, P < 0.000) was inversely predictive of helplessness/hopelessness. Social support from significant others was predictive of a patient's fighting spirit and fatalism mental adjustment, while support from friends was predictive of helplessness/hopelessness. CONCLUSION: Demographic factors such as young age and high education are associated with good mental adjustment to breast cancer. Perceived support from significant others may fulfill the need for the socioemotional aspects of patient support that lead to the adjustment to a breast cancer diagnosis in patients.

Predictors of symptom experience in Korean patients with cancer undergoing chemotherapy.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate symptom experience and identify the predictors of symptom experience in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. METHOD: This study was a cross-sectional and descriptive design. A total of 167 participants were recruited from the outpatient department of a university hospital in South Korea. Symptom experience (symptom prevalence, severity, and interference with daily activities), physiological factors (absolute neutrophil count, hemoglobin), psychological factors (depression, fighting spirit), and a situational factor (social support), based on the Theory of Unpleasant Symptoms, were measured. Descriptive statistics and multiple regression analyses were performed. RESULTS: Symptom prevalence ranged from 74.3% to 98.8% of patients. The five most severe symptoms were fatigue, numbness/tingling, dry mouth, sleep disturbance, and drowsiness. General activity and work were the most affected areas of daily life. Symptom experience was significantly related to hemoglobin, depression, fighting spirit, and social support. In the multiple regression analysis, higher level of depression and lung cancer accounted for 20.2% of the variance in symptom severity. Higher level of depression, lower level of fighting spirit and third or fourth-line chemotherapy accounted for 31.0% of the variance in symptom interference. CONCLUSIONS: Attention is drawn to developing a comprehensive approach which considers relevant physiological, psychological and social factors in assessment and management of concurrent symptoms in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Health care professionals need to play a key role in helping patients deal with depressive mood and promote fighting spirit, particularly in patients with lung cancer or patients treated with higher-line chemotherapy, for controlling their symptom experience.

The Development and Evaluation of Web-based Flash Content for Fighting Spirit Promotion in Patients with Cancer / 성인간호학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to develop a Web-based flash content for fighting spirit promotion and to test its effect on cancer patients' fighting spirit. METHODS: The 15-minute long Web-based flash content was developed using the following 5 process: analysis, planning, development, program operation and evaluation stages and utilized the multiple edition and revision processes from December 2005 to August 2006. The evaluation was done by one group pretest-posttest design. Study subjects were 17 cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. The group were received a 2-week intervention, a day weekly, and measured the variables at baseline, 4 weeks later. The study was performed from August 2006 to February 2007 at a cancer center in Korea. Fighting spirit was measured by Mini-MAC(Mental Adjustment to Cancer). Data was analysed by descriptive statistics and paired t-test using SAS 9.13 program. RESULTS: On the Web-based flash content, there are 4 menu bars that consisted of cancer diagnosis, symptom management, stress management, and cancer survivorship. The study group revealed significantly more fighting spirit than pre-test(t=-3.04, p=.008). CONCLUSION: This Web-based flash content can be utilized in psychosocial interventions for promoting fighting spirit in patients with cancer.

Predictors of Fighting Spirit or Helplessness/Hopelessness in People with Cancer / 간호학회지

PURPOSE: This study was done to identify predictors of the fighting spirit or helplessness/hopelessness in the patients' mental adjustment to cancer. Cancer patients' characteristics like performance status, metastasis and duration of diagnosis with demographic factors, spiritual support and social support were used as predictors of a fighting spirit or helplessness/hopelessness. METHODS: A total of 124 ambulatory cancer patients completed the Mental Adjustment to Cancer (MAC) scale and responded in a structured instrument about their characteristics, spiritual and social support. RESULTS: The results of multiple regression analysis revealed that confidence in the supporter (R2=.114, p=.000), duration of cancer diagnosis (R2=.041, p=.000) and faith (R2=.030, p=.000) were predictive of a fighting spirit (R2=.185, p=.000); whereas, education (R2=.074, p=.001), performance status (R2=.055, p=.000), satisfaction with social support (R2=.046, p=.000), and metastasis (R2=.037, p=.000) were predictive of helplessness/hopelessness (R2=.202, p=.000). CONCLUSION: Social support, spiritual support and disease related factors like metastasis, performance status, and duration of cancer diagnosis need to be considered in a psychosocial nursing intervention for a fighting spirit or helplessness/hopelessness.

Effects of Spirituality Promoting Intervention on Spirituality, Social Support and Fighting Spirit among the Cancer Patients / 성인간호학회지

PURPOSE: This study examined the effects of spirituality promoting intervention for the stomach and colon cancer patients. METHOD: A quasi-experimental design was used. Data collection was carried out from April 2004 to June, 2004 at a cancer center in Korea. The intervention included pray, meditation, group education and discussion for coping with cancer. The experimental group were received a 1-hour intervention per week for 6 weeks, while the control group received usual care. Data collection was done at pre and post intervention. The degree of spirituality was measured by the Korean version of WHOQOL-SRPB pilot test(WHO Quality of Life-Spirituality, Religiousness and Personal Beliefs pilot test) Module, and social support was measured using scores on a PRQ 85(Personal Resources Questionnaire). Fighting spirit was measured by the scores of MAC(Mental Adjustment to Cancer) scale. RESULTS: The experimental group showed significant increase in the scores of social support and fighting spirit compared to those in the control group after the intervention. There were no significant changes in terms of the spirituality score compared to the baseline score in the experimental group and the control group. CONCLUSION: This intervention appeared to be effective in increasing social support and fighting spirit, which considered to be very helpful in cancer adjustment.

Associations between Depression, Anxiety, Hostility and Fighting Spirit among Cancer Patients in a Cancer Center in Korea.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to examine the associations between depression, anxiety, hostility and fighting spirit among patients with stomach, colorectal or breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 223 patients, diagnosed as with stomach, colorectal or breast cancer, undergoing chemotherapy or follow up care, were the subjects of the study. The study design was cross-sectional at the time of the survey. The degrees of depression, anxiety and hostility of the patients were assessed by the SCL-90-R scores, and the fighting spirit was measured by the Mental Adjustment to Cancer (MAC) scale score. RESULTS: The scores of anxiety and hostility of the patients at younger age were higher than those at older age (p<0.01). The patients with metastasis were more depressed than those without it (p<0.01). There was a negative association between depression and fighting spirit (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The study showed the more depressed cancer patients had lower fighting spirit score, which was known to be one of the most active psychosocial contributors in adjusting to cancer and survival.

Associations between Depression, Anxiety, Hostility and Fighting Spirit among Cancer Patients in a Cancer Center in Korea / Journal of the Korean Cancer Association, 대한암학회지

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to examine the associations between depression, anxiety, hostility and fighting spirit among patients with stomach, colorectal or breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 223 patients, diagnosed as with stomach, colorectal or breast cancer, undergoing chemotherapy or follow up care, were the subjects of the study. The study design was cross-sectional at the time of the survey. The degrees of depression, anxiety and hostility of the patients were assessed by the SCL-90-R scores, and the fighting spirit was measured by the Mental Adjustment to Cancer (MAC) scale score. RESULTS: The scores of anxiety and hostility of the patients at younger age were higher than those at older age (p<0.01). The patients with metastasis were more depressed than those without it (p<0.01). There was a negative association between depression and fighting spirit (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The study showed the more depressed cancer patients had lower fighting spirit score, which was known to be one of the most active psychosocial contributors in adjusting to cancer and survival.