title: [Coping with disease by the patient. Results of a medico-sociological study of the coping process by cancer patients and possibilities for support by the physician].
abstract: The starting point of the following considerations is the result of a previous investigation, which showed that the process of recovery after a surgical operation is influenced to a great extent by the the patient's view of this health condition and his confidence in the recommended therapy. Consequently this article deals with two questions: (1) the patient's role in coping with cancer and its therapy and (2) the doctor's possibilities of supporting the endeavours of the patient in this process. Four different self-concepts of cancer patients as "Healthy", "Chronically Ill", "Dying in a distant future", "Dying in the near future", could be found. As far as the process of coping is concerned: It could be shown that the information about the existence of cancer means a shock to the patient, which shakes the self-concept of the patient, but at the same time is a necessary prerequisite for starting the coping process. According to the confidence the patient has in the suggested therapy and the state of this illness, there are two developments possible: One group of patients overcomes this shock and retains the old self-concept. This group is able to formulate aims for themselves in a clear way (e.g. reaching the former state of health) and works energetically towards reaching them. A second group of patients is--on account of various reasons--not in a position to believe in the therapeutic measures taken. In this situation the information of the patients about having cancer makes a change in the self-concept necessary (e. g. from viewing oneself as a "healthy" person vs., a "dying" person).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wimmer
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001293:Attitude to Death; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D012944:Social Support
vernacular_title: Krankheitsbearbeitung durch den Patienten. Ergebnisse einer medizinsoziologischen Untersuchung über den Prozess der Krankheitsbearbeitung bei Krebskranken und Möglichkeiten der Unterstützung durch den Arzt.