Relationship between posttraumatic growth and quality of life in stomach cancer patients

초록

Purpose: This correlational study was undertaken to investigate the level of post traumatic growth and quality of life in stomach cancer patients, and to provide basic information for development of nursing intervention through identifying the relationship between two variables. Method: Data were collected from outpatient department in one university hospital. The total number of one hundred twenty two subjects were participated and they completed Korean Post-traumatic Growth Index and Functional Assessment Cancer Therapy Questionnaire. Data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, and Pearson correlation coefficient. Results: The mean score of post-traumatic growth in stomach cancer patients was 46.74 out of 80 and the mean score of quality of life was 55.48 out of 84. There was significant difference between post-traumatic growth and age (F=2.74, p=.032), education level (F=9.44, p<.001), religion (t=-2.33, p=.016), importance of religious life (F=5.19, p=.007), and monthly income (F=4.43, p=.002). There was significant differences between quality of life and gender (t=2.44, p=.016), education level (F=6.45, p=.002), job (t=-2.08, p=.040), monthly income (F=2.47, p=.048), and experience of economic difficulties (t=-3.08, p=.003). Also, there was significant differences between quality of life and perceived severity of cancer (F=5.89, p=.004), level of discomfort associated with cancer (F=13.32, p<.001), and level of difficulties in everyday life (F=12.71, p<.001). There was a significant correlation between post-traumatic growth and quality of life in patients with stomach cancer (r=.40, p<.001). Conclusion: As shown in the above results, post-traumatic growth has positive correlation with quality of life, which means that the promotion of the improved quality of life can be achieved through the growth of stomach cancer patients after the cancer diagnosis. Hence, it should be considered to pormote self-help groups and social supporting pr