SELF-CARE RESPONSES TO ILLNESS OF PATIENTS WITH VARIOUS CANCER DIAGNOSES

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between self -care responses and variables concerning health status, disease and tr eatment, socioeconomic resources, demographic characteristics, and hea lth beliefs in a heterogeneous sample of 227 cancer patients referred to home care. Data were collected prior to discharge from the hospital using the OARS Functional Assessment Questionnaire, the Karnofsky Per formance Status, the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scale, a nd the Preference for Participation in Care Tool. The results indicate d that the variables related to health status, disease and treatment w ere highly correlated with self-care behavior (SCB), and to a lower ex tent to self-care preference (SCP). Karnofsky performance status, canc er-related impairments, perceived physical health, and stage of diseas e were identified as significant predictors of SCB explaining 57% of t he variance. Age, gender, education, live-in resources, and perceived mental health were dominant predictors of SCP explaining only 17% of t he variance. Further research endeavors should investigate other model s that might prove to be better predictors of SCP.