Relationships among perceived diagnostic disclosure, health locus of control, and levels of hope in Taiwanese cancer patients

Objectives. To explore relationships among perceived diagnostic disclosure, health locus of control, and levels of hope in Taiwanese cancer patients. Research Design. A cross-sectional, descriptive correlational design was used in this study. One hundred and twenty-four (N = 124) patients were recruited. The Background Information Form, the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control (MHLC) Scales, the Herth Hope Index (HHI), and patients' medical records were used. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Chi-square, Pearson's correlation, and multiple regression. Results. The major findings of this study are as follows: (1) overall, cancer patients had medium levels of hope; (2) patients who were aware of their own diagnosis reported significantly higher levels of hope than those who were not informed of their own diagnosis; (3) patients who were aware of their diagnosis tended to have higher levels of the internal locus of control than those who were not informed; (4) the internal health locus of control was significantly positively related to levels of hope; (5) the chance health locus of control was significantly negatively related to levels of hope. Conclusions. The results of this study provide important implications for Taiwanese clinicians concerning the practice of diagnostic disclosure of cancer to patients.