Trends and issues related to studies on cancer patient empowerment

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to analyze Japanese and foreign papers related to the empowerment of cancer patients, and to identify trends and issues related to studies on cancer patient empowerment. We searched the web version of the Ichushi-Web Ver. 4, PubMed and CINAHL with the keywords "empower," "empowerment," "cancer," and "patient," and found one Japanese and six foreign papers meeting the selection criteria of this study. These papers were published between 1997 and 2004, and most study designs were factor analysis studies. To summarize, the research revealed that in interpreting the concept of cancer patient empowerment, emphasis was placed on partnership and self-respect, and that the process of empowering cancer patients was aggregated into three stages: recognition of lack of power; working out how to control one's cancer, treatment, mind, and body; and change of values. Also, the presence of significant others, health care professionals, and fellow sufferers played an important role in the process. It is necessary to grasp the essence and reality of empowerment based on the characteristics of cancer patients, and work towards developing a practical nursing intervention model and evaluation scale in line with the conceptual framework of empowerment.