癌症病人的希望程度與疾病狀態之相關性研究

The purpose of this study was to explore relationships between disease status and levels of hope in cancer patients. A cross-sectional correlational design was used in this study. Convenience sampling from oncology inpatient wards and outpatient units in two medical hospitals in Taipei were used in recruiting eligible subjects. Two research instruments, the Herth Hope Index and the Karnofsky performance status scale, were used to measure the major concepts in this study. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation. The major findings of this study were as follows: Cancer patients had medium levels of hope. Among the demographic factors, age, educational levels, gender, work status, marital status, and religious belief were significantly related to levels of hope. Performance status was significantly related to levels of hope. The finding of this study will assist nurses with understanding relationships between disease status and hope in cancer patients. Health care professionals may need to offer appropriate nursing interventions to enhance patients' level of hope. Important implications for nursing education, as well as directions for future studies, were discussed in this study.