암환자의 대응전략

Coping Strategy of Cancer Patients

Psychological aspects including coping strategy of 106 cancer patients were investigated for their clinical use. Their psychic problems were found to be more general than specific They most commonly included negative emotions such as anxiety, fear, psychic shock and hopelessness but some of them were related to economic burden and psychic fighting, suggesting realistic confrontation. A lot of patients recognized that their illness would have caused negative emotions in the family members. Most of the patients tended to deny their vulnerabilities but among them, tendency to minimize illness and repudiation of other* s assistance were most remarkable. As coping strategy, compliance was most frequently used in the cancer patients. In addition, information-seeking attitude and confrontation were often used, but use of drug and alcohol, fatalism and isolation were rarely used. For those patients who showed emotional turmoil, frustration, anxiety and fear, their psychological problems were not easily resolved. Confrontation had a positive effect, in contrast, exteraalization had a negative effect on resolution of the problemson. Most of the sources of support for the patients were known to be doctors, which reflected the importance of doctors’ role in coping with the illness.