Factors Influencing Health-Promoting Behaviors of Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy
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Abstract
BACKGROUND: Receiving chemotherapy treatment for cancer patients can potentially lead to side effects or undesirable symptoms. These adverse effects can cause physical and psychological distress. Therefore, the patient's ability to cope with these changes requires good health-promoting behaviors, which depend on several important factors
OBJECTIVES: This research aimed to examine the levels of social support, health literacy, and health-promoting behaviors and to study the factors influencing health-promoting behaviors of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.
METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive study conducted with a sample group of 123 cancer patients receiving chemotherapy in a hospital in Northeastern Thailand. The sampling was done through a simple random sampling method using a lottery approach. Data collection was carried out using a questionnaire consisting of four parts: 1) general information, 2) social support, 3) health literacy, and 4) health-promoting behaviors. General data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics, and Pearson correlation analysis was employed to examine correlations. Additionally, stepwise multiple regression analysis was used to investigate factors influencing health-promoting behaviors.
RESULTS: The findings of this study showed that the majority of the sample group have high levels of social support, health literacy, and health-promoting behaviors (77.2%, 81.3%, and 59.3% respectively). Moreover, social support and health literacy are positively correlated with health-promoting behaviors, with statistically significant relationships (r=0.35, p<0.01; r=0.57, p<0.01, respectively). Importantly, health literacy was identified as the most influential factor affecting health-promoting behaviors, followed by social support.
CONCLUSIONS: Based on the results of the study, it is evident that interventions to encourage positive health behaviors among cancer patients receiving chemotherapy should focus on organizing activities that enhance health literacy in these patients.
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