Correlation between uncertainty in illness and coping style in patients with gastric cancer

Abstract

Objective To investigate the relationship between uncertainty in illness and coping style in patients with gastric cancer.Methods The Mishel's Uncertainty in Illness Scale (MUIS) and Medical Coping Modes Questionnaire (MCMQ) were used to investigateuncertainty in illness and coping styleamong 120 patients with gastric cancer.Results The total score of patients' uncertainty in illness was 45 ～ 101,with the average score as (69.92 ± 9.85) and average score for each item as (2.80 ± 0.39).Score of uncertain factors was 29 ～71,with the average as (45.32 ±8.18).Score of complexity factors was 14 ～35,with the average as (24.61 ±4.14).There were 6 patients with low level of uncertainty,accounting for 5％,180 patients with medium level of uncertainty,accounting for 90％,and 6 patients with high level of uncertainty,accounting for 5％.Before the surgery,before chemotherapy and after surgery and during chemotherapy,the total score of uncertainty in patients was respectively (80.12 ± 8.31),(64.08 ± 5.33) and (64.82 ± 4.86),score of uncertain factors was respectively (52.83 ± 8.31),(40.78 ± 5.01)and (41.79 ± 3.51),and sore of complexity factors was respectively (27.29 ± 3.72),(23.30 ± 3.91) and (23.03 ± 3.33),with statistically significant differences (F =81.81,50.10,17.27,respectively; P ＜ 0.01).There was also statistically significant difference of coping style during three different stages (P ＜0.01).The score of uncertainty in illness as well as its two factors was negatively related to coping style such as confrontation and avoidance (P ＜ 0.05),and positively to coping style like surrender (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Uncertainty in illness is common in gastric cancer patients and significantly related to their coping style,which need more attention and should be reduced by corresponding intervention methods. Key words: Gastric cancer; Uncertainty in illness; Coping style; Correlation