Study of uncertainty in illness among patients with hepatocellular carcinoma intending to undergo transcatheter artery chemoembolization

Abstract

Objective To describe uncertainty in illness of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma intending to undergo transcatheter artery chemoembolization (TACE) and to identify the related factors. Methods A descriptive and correlative design was used. By convenience sampling, 95 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma were recruited from Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center in this study. Mishel Uncertainty in Illness Scale was used to assess uncertainty in illness and information needs of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma intending to undergo TACE and the demographic questionnaire and Information Needs Assessment Scale were used to measure demographic data, disease and treatment characteristics and information needs of patients. Results The level of uncertainty in illness in most patients with hepatocellular carcinoma intending to undergo TACE was middle (77.61±9.15) points. The mean score of indeterminacy subscale was (50.16 ± 6.16) points. Uncertainty in illness of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma intending to undergo TACE was affected by the degree of education background, domicile, family economic status, way to pay for the medical expenses, course of diseases, how many times he (she) used to undergo assisted treatments and the level of information needs. Conclusions The level of uncertainty in illness in most patients with hepatocellular carcinoma intending to undergo TACE was middle and it is important to assess patients' uncertainty in illness at clinical work and to take effective interventions to content patients' information needs to decrease the level of uncertainty. Key words: Liver neoplasms; Transcatheter artery chemoembolization; Uncertainty in illness; Information needs