Clusters Analysis According to Causal Attribution in Patients with Cancer

Abstract

Purpose: This study is designed to identify clusters according to the causal attribution that people make about the cancer and to determine influences of coping behavior and depression as output of causal attribution. Method: The subjects were 192 patients who had been diagnosed cancer one year ago and attended an outpatient clinic. For cancer patients to be classified homogenious groups according to causal attribution, cluster analysis of subjects' ratings on the Causal Dimension Scale was been made. Results: Cluster 1(n=71) had patients with having external, stable and uncontrollable attribution. Cluster 2(n=70) had patients with having unstable and external controllable attribution regarding cause of cancer. They were not important whether cause of cancer was self or other. Cluster 3(n=51) had patients with having internal, unstable and internal controllable attribution. Coping behaviors between cluster 1 and 3 were significant difference. However, depression was not significant difference among clusters. Conclusion: Based upon these results, it is recommended that the developing training program to be changed to the more positive attribution is necessary.