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Perceived Stress, Spirituality, Resourcefulness and Sexuality in Patients with Rectal Cancer undergoing Cancer Treatment

Au, Tsay-Yi
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1259996291

Abstract Details

2010, Doctor of Philosophy, Case Western Reserve University, Nursing.
Colorectal cancer is one of the most prevalent malignancies in Taiwanese adults and its treatment has been associated with sexual dysfunction. Experiencing sexual dysfunction in conjunction with a cancer diagnosis can produce overwhelming stress and compromise one’s ability to adapt to illness and change in sexual function. This study examined relationships among demographic and cancer-related variables and perceived stress, spirituality, resourcefulness, and sexuality in Taiwanese rectal cancer patients using Neuman’s systems model, Lazarus’s stress and coping theory, and Zauszniewski’s theory of resourcefulness. Using a cross-sectional, correlational design, a convenience sample of 120 rectal cancer adults receiving treatment was recruited from a 1,500-bed Medical Center in southern Taiwan. Data were collected during face-to-face interviews. Participants’ ages ranged from 29 to 85 (M = 61) years; 32% had cancer classified as stage A; 25% had a colostomy; 9% used a substance/lubricant to improve sexual function; and average length of time since cancer diagnosis/operation was 36 months. Results indicated that greater stress was associated with female gender, younger age, colostomy performed, shorter time since operation, and lower scores on sexuality measures. Higher appraisal of stress was associated with colostomy performed and lower scores on sexuality measures. Lower resourcefulness was found in men and associated with more comorbid conditions, less education, greater stress, lower spirituality, and lower scores on sexuality measures. Lower spirituality was related to greater stress and lower scores on sexuality measures. Lower sexual function was correlated with older age, less education, colostomy performed, higher tumor stage, greater number of cancer treatments and greater stress. The findings have important implications for theory development, clinical practice, nursing education and health policy. Advanced practice nurses should focus on stress reduction while establishing a standard assessment of sexuality in rectal cancer patients before and after surgery. In addition, health promotion programs for long-term survivors should include the use of well-developed screening measures to assess rectal cancer patients at risk for high stress, who may also have low resourcefulness, low spirituality, and low scores on measures of sexuality. Future research with larger, diverse samples is important for further examination of sexuality over time.
Jaclene A. Zauszniewski, PhD (Committee Chair)
Barbara J. Daly, PhD (Committee Member)
Faye A. Gary, PhD (Committee Member)
Gary T. Deimling, PhD (Committee Member)
314 p.
Health Care
cancer; stress; spirituality; resourcefulness; sexuality

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Au, T.-Y. (2010). Perceived Stress, Spirituality, Resourcefulness and Sexuality in Patients with Rectal Cancer undergoing Cancer Treatment [Doctoral dissertation, Case Western Reserve University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1259996291

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Au, Tsay-Yi. Perceived Stress, Spirituality, Resourcefulness and Sexuality in Patients with Rectal Cancer undergoing Cancer Treatment. 2010. Case Western Reserve University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1259996291.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Au, Tsay-Yi. "Perceived Stress, Spirituality, Resourcefulness and Sexuality in Patients with Rectal Cancer undergoing Cancer Treatment." Doctoral dissertation, Case Western Reserve University, 2010. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1259996291

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

case1259996291
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© 2009, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Case Western Reserve University School of Graduate Studies and OhioLINK.