Factors influencing the coping strategies of liver cancer patients undergoing transarterial chemoembolization

Abstract

Aim: This study explored the association between social support, resilience and coping strategies among patients with liver cancer and evaluated the extent to which patients' use of various coping strategies can be explained by social support and resilience. Methods: This cross-sectional study comprised 119 patients who experienced transarterial chemoembolization related to liver cancer and who completed the Social Support Scale, the Resilience Scale and the Ways of Coping Checklist-Revised. Results: Results indicated a significant positive correlation between social support and use of problem-focused coping strategies and overall coping strategies. In addition, results showed a significant positive correlation between resilience and use of problem-focused strategies, emotion-focused strategies and overall coping strategies. Social support accounted for 14% of variance in use of problem-focused strategies and 7.6% of the variance in overall coping strategies. Resilience accounted for 30.5% of the variance in use of problem-focused strategies, 8.5% in use of emotion-focused strategies and 21.6% of overall coping strategies. Conclusion: Results of this study highlight the importance of social support and resilience in patients' coping strategies related to liver cancer treatment.