Investigation of the Relationship between Autonomy and Problem-Solving Skills in Patients Undergoing Chemotherapya: a cross-sectional survey Kemoterapi Alan Hastaların Özerklik Düzeyleri ve Problem Çözme Becerileri Arasındaki İlişkinin İncelenmesi: Kesitsel Bir Araştırma

Abstract

Objective: Cancer is a difficult disease to cure that it affects the individual physically, emotionally, and socially, and reduces the quality of life and threatens life. Successful chemotherapy and general care depends on patient participation.This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between autonomy levels and problem-solving skills of chemotherapy patients. Method: One hundred and four patients who received chemotherapy within the past year comprised the sample of this descriptive, cross-sectional study. Data were collected using a personal information form, the Autonomy subscale of the Sociotropy-Autonomy Scale and the Problem-solving Inventory. Results: Means and standard deviations for total scores on the Autonomy subscale and Problem Solving Inventory were 66.54±20.97 and 83.46±20.00 respectively. Autonomy was positively correlated with problem-solving skills. Autonomy and problem-solving skill levels of the patients who had a university degree, were married, were residing in the city center, perceived their economic status as good, received education about chemotherapy or suffered the effects of chemotherapy were statistically significantly higher (all ps < 0.05). Conclusions: Our sample displayed moderate autonomy and poor problem-solving skills. We recommend that nurses take into account patients’ autonomy and problem-solving skill levels during chemotherapy and efforts should be made at both individual and institutional level to promote patient autonomy and improve patients’ problem-solving skills.