Investigation of The Effect of Cancer Needs of Outpatient Chemotherapy Patients on Their Health Perceptions

INTRODUCTION: Cancer, a health problem with an increasing incidence, poses many financial and moral difficulties to the patient and his family. An individual diagnosed with cancer and undergoing chemotherapy has increased care needs throughout the disease in many areas. It is important to consider it holistically to meet the needs of patients. This study was conducted to examine the effects of the cancer needs of patients receiving ambulatory chemotherapy on their health perceptions.
METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 384 outpatient chemotherapy patients. Data were collected with a sociodemographic information form, the Cancer Needs Questionnaire-Short Form, and the Perception of Health Status Scale.
RESULTS: The mean scores of the study group were 130±12.38 on the total “Cancer Needs Questionnaire" and 2.92±0.68 on the total "Perception of Health Status Scale". A high-level and very significant positive correlation was found between the total scores of both scales (p≤0.05). It was determined that the cancer needs of the study group highly significantly predicted their health perceptions (p=0.000).
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The findings of this study showed that patients with cancer receiving ambulatory chemotherapy had a high level of cancer needs and poor health perceptions and that these two characteristics showed a high, positive, and very significant relationship.