The relationship between the level of hope and the level of coping response in cancer patients

This descriptive study was designed to investigate the relationship between level of hope and level of coping response in adult oncology patients undergoing chemotherapy in hospital, outpatient, and home settings. The length of time since diagnosis, family and job responsibilities, and religious convictions were also analyzed in relation to the level of hope and coping. Lazarus' (1977) Model of Coping and Stotland's Theory of Hope (1969) formed the conceptual framework. A Demographic Data Form, the Herth Hope Scale, and the Jalowiec Coping Scale were used for data collection. A convenience sample of 120 subjects were included in the data analysis. Two statistical methods were applied to analysis of the data, the Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient and the One-Way ANOVA.

A significant relationship (p .05) was found between level of hope and level of coping response among subjects in all three settings. In addition, strength of religious convictions and performance of family role responsibilities were significantly related to the variables of hope and coping regardless of the type of setting. Length of time since diagnosis and performance of job role responsibilities were not found to be related to either level of hope or level of coping response.