Role of Cultural Health Capital in Coping with Cancer: Perspective of Cancer Patients at Lahore, Pakistan

Abstract

This research study aimed at correlating cultural health capital (CHC) and coping mechanisms with cancer patients in Pakistan using the framework of cultural health capital. The research aimed at understanding the concept of cultural health capital and its relation to coping mechanisms. A purposive non-random technique has been employed, where data was collected from 95 cancer patients who have undergone chemotherapy. A quantitative research method for data accumulation was aided by a developed questionnaire with two distinct portions. The first part was used to assess cultural health capital using the variables institutionalized cultural capital, objective and incorporated cultural capital, and a scale for coping Mechanisms. A self-developed questionnaire was used along with the Cope Scale to measure cultural health Capital. Data analysis was conducted using linear Regression. Data was collected from 95 respondents (51 females and 44 males) falling in the age bracket of 41-50. The findings of the study show a weak relationship between cultural health capital and coping mechanisms. Despite the presence of cultural health capital, it is not found to be a significant factor in coping with cancer. Religion was found to be a vital coping strategy used by cancer patients. Future studies can undermine the barriers to the utilization of CHC for coping purposes