Illness perception differences between Russian- and Hebrew-speaking Israeli oncology patients.
Illness perception influences health and illness behaviors. This study was designed to estimate illness perception differences between Russian-speaking and Hebrew-speaking Israeli oncology patients. Changes in illness perception associated with time spent in Israel among Russian-speaking patients were also evaluated. Additionally, we evaluated differences in illness perception of patients exposed to Chernobyl's consequences. A total of 144 oncology patients (77 Hebrew-speaking, 67 Russian-speaking) completed personal data questionnaires and The illness perception questionnaire revised, translated into Russian for this study. Significantly more Russian-speaking oncology patients perceived their illness as chronic and having negative consequences on life (p < .01). Russian-speaking oncology patients tend to have a more negative perception of cancer compared to Hebrew-speaking patients. Time spent in Israel may create more positive perceptions of cancer among these patients. No illness perception differences were found concerning Chernobyl consequences.
Division of Oncology, Rambam Health Care Campus, 8 Ha'Aliyah Street, 35254, Haifa, Israel.
Nadia
N
Popov
Irit
I
Heruti
Sigal
S
Levy
Doron
D
Lulav-Grinwald
Gil
G
Bar-Sela
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health; D047852:Chernobyl Nuclear Accident; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012426:Russia / Q000208:ethnology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014175:Translating