title: Transitoriness in cancer patients: a cross-sectional survey of lung and gastrointestinal cancer patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Despite earlier diagnosis and advancements in treatment, cancer remains a leading cause of death in the world (13% of all deaths according to the World Health Organization) among men and women. Cancer accounts for approximately 20% of the deaths in the USA every year. Here, we report the findings from a cross-sectional survey of psychosocial factors in lung and gastrointestinal cancer patients. The aim of the study was to explore the associations among transitoriness, uncertainty, and locus of control (LOC) with quality of life. Transitoriness is defined as a person's confrontation with life's finitude due to a cancer diagnosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 126 patients with lung or gastrointestinal cancer completed eight self-reporting questionnaires addressing demographics, spiritual perspective, symptom burden, transitoriness, uncertainty, LOC, and quality of life.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Transitoriness, uncertainty, and LOC were significantly associated with one another (r = 0.3267, p = 0.0002/r = 0.1994, p = 0.0252, respectively). LOC/belief in chance has a significant inverse relationship with patients' quality of life (r = -0.2505, p = 0.0047). Transitoriness, uncertainty, and LOC were found to have a significant inverse relationship with patients' quality of life (transitoriness state: r = -0.5363, p = 0.0000/trait: r = -0.4629, p = 0.0000/uncertainty: r = -0.4929, p = 0.0000/internal LOC: r = 0.1759, p = 0.0489/chance LOC: r = -0.2505, p = 0.0047).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Transitoriness, uncertainty, and LOC are important concepts as they adversely influence patients' quality of life. Incorporating this finding into the care of cancer patients may provide them with the support they need to cope with treatment and maintenance of a positive quality of life.
authors.affiliation: Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing, 525 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. Maya.Shaha@insel.ch
authors.forename: Maya
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shaha
authors.forename: Vinciya
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pandian
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Choti
authors.forename: Eden
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Stotsky
authors.forename: Joseph M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Herman
authors.forename: Yasmin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Libonati
authors.forename: Timothy M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Pawlik
authors.forename: Richard D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Schulick
authors.forename: Anne E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Belcher
mesh_terms: D001293:Attitude to Death; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D035501:Uncertainty