Relationship between Uncertainty and Emotions in Advanced Lung Cancer Patients after Initial Therapy

Abstract

We investigated the relationship between uncertainty and emotions in advanced lung cancer patients after initial therapy. Fourteen advanced lung cancer patients participated in this study. A survey was conducted using the Universal Uncertainty in Illness Scale (UUIS) and the Profile of Mood States-Brief Form (POMS-Brief Form), Japanese Version. The total UUIS score of each participant ranged from 42 to 109, with a mean±SD of 70.7±20.9. The T-scores for the 6 factors of the POMS-Brief Form were 50.2±11.9 (mean±SD) for tension-anxiety (T-A); 49.6±12.2 for depression-dejection (D); 40.4±4.9 for anger-hostility (A-H); 41.8±9.3 for vigor (V); 44.2±5.8 for fatigue (F); and 52.7±15.2 for confusion (C). In terms of the correlation between the total UUIS score and the respective T-scores of the six POMS-Brief Form factors, a strong correlation was seen between total UUIS score and D (r=0.735, p=0.003). A substantial correlation was also seen between total UUIS score and T-A (r=0.694, p=0.006). In advanced lung cancer patients after initial therapy, uncertainty had an effect on emotions. J. Med. Invest. 64: 96-100, February, 2017.