The relationship between health fatalism and self-care agency in oncology patients

Authors : Seda Gökkaya, Meltem Şirin Gök

Pages : 16-25

View : 9 | Download : 10

Publication Date : 2025-04-30

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Aim: The present study aimed to examine the relationship between health fatalism and the self-care agency of oncology patients. Material and Method: This is a descriptive-correlational study. The study sample consisted of 169 oncology patients who met the inclusion criteria between September 2019 and February 2020 and in November 2020. The study\\\'s data were collected using the Patient Information Form, Health Fatalism Scale, and Self-Care Agency Scale. Results: The patients\\\' mean health fatalism score was 58.62±7.03, and the mean self-care agency score was 87.16±15.52. The difference between the mean scores of health fatalism according to gender, marital status, occupation, income level, and smoking was statistically significant (p<0.05). The difference between the mean scores of the self-care according to age, education level, smoking, type of treatment, side effect of chemotherapy, and additional chronic disease status was statistically significant (p<0.05). A statistically significant, positive, and low-level relationship was detected between the patients’ health fatalism and self-care agency score averages(p<0.05). Conclusion: Oncology patients’ health fatalism attitudes were found to be high, and their self-care agency was at a moderate level. It was concluded that as the health fatalism attitudes of oncology patients increased, their self-care agency also increased. It is recommended to evaluate the impact of health fatalism as a sociocultural factor in the self-care of oncology patients.
Keywords : Nursing, cancer, self-care, health fatalism.