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Comparison of health locus of control in oncological and non-oncological patients
Katarzyna Gibek1, Tomasz Sacha2
1Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland.
Insights
Oncologically ill patients perceive external factors as more influential on their health than internal motivation, especially with longer disease duration. This highlights a potential shift in health locus of control influenced by cancer and chronicity.
Area of Science:
- Health Psychology
- Oncology
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- The health locus of control (HOC) is a key psychological construct influencing health behaviors and outcomes.
- Understanding differences in HOC between oncological and non-oncological patients is crucial for tailored interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare HOC dimensions between cancer patients and those with other chronic conditions.
- To examine the relationship between HOC, disease type, duration, and gender.
Main Methods:
- A study involving 204 patients from hematology and cardiology departments.
- Utilized a custom questionnaire and the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control (MHLC) scale.
- Comparative analysis with US and Polish normative groups.
Main Results:
- Significant gender differences observed in the Internal HOC scale (p < 0.02).
- Both groups scored lower on Internal HOC and higher on Powerful Others HOC.
- Oncological patients showed a significant difference in Powerful Others HOC (p < 0.004).
Conclusions:
- Oncologically ill patients may attribute health control more to external forces (Powerful Others) than non-oncological patients.
- In cancer patients, longer disease duration correlates with weaker Internal HOC, suggesting reduced self-motivation for treatment success.
Aim Of The Study:
The aim of the study was to investigate whether there are differences in the various dimensions of the health locus of control between oncological and non-oncological patients and to determine whether there is a relationship between the level of health locus of control and the type, duration of disease and gender.
Material And Methods:
The study was conducted at the Department of Hematology and the 1st Department of Cardiology of the University Hospital in Krakow. 204 patients were enrolled. Our own questionnaire developed for this purpose and the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control scale were used. The US normalization group and the Polish standardization groups of the chronically ill patients were used for comparative analysis.
Results:
Analysis showed significant differences between women and men in the Internal control scale (p < 0.02). The respondents from both groups showed lower scores in the Internal locus of control and much higher scores in the dimension Powerful Others. In the group of oncological patients, a negative correlation was found between the Internal scale of health locus of control and the duration of the disease (p = 0.007). There was a significant difference between oncological and non-oncological patients in the Powerful Others scale (p < 0.004).
Conclusions:
The results suggest that oncologically ill patients could be more convinced that others are responsible for their health when compared to non-oncological patients. The longer the disease persists in oncological patients, the weaker is their internal motivation to achieve good treatment results.
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