Fear of Cancer Illness and its Influence on Self-Disclosure among Adult Patients at Kenyatta National Hospital Cancer Treatment Center in Nairobi City County, Kenya.
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Date
2020-02
Authors
Waithaka, Hellen Njeri
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
Despite the rapid increase in the number of cancer patients in Kenya, the immense physical and
psychological challenges that this diagnosis brings both during and after treatment remain largely
unaddressed. Literature shows that cancer illness is greatly feared. The fear may influence selfdisclosure
by patients regarding the effects of cancer illness to people they interact with in their
day-to-day living. Self-disclosure involves expressing personal experiences on emotions,
thoughts, and wishes as a result of cancer diagnosis, verbally to significant others. Although such
self-disclosure has been shown to reap psychological benefits, the action can be hampered by
stigma and fear around cancer. Self-disclosure is also required in order to enlist and secure
support during and after treatment of cancer. The main objective of this study was to determine
the influence of fear of cancer illness on self-disclosure among adult patients at Kenyatta
National Hospital Cancer Treatment Center (KNH-CTC) in Nairobi City County, Kenya. The
study whose target population was 3500 adult cancer patients who annually got treatment and
review at KNH-CTC, was informed by the Social Cognitive Processing Model of Emotional
Adjustment to Cancer and employed a descriptive survey research design. A sample size (n=347)
was determined using the Cochran formula. Non-probability sampling, using purposive sampling
method was used to select the study participants. Questionnaire and Focus Group Discussion
were used to collect data. Both validity and reliability of the research instrument were
established before conducting the study. In addition, all research ethical and authorization
protocols were observed. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for quantitative analysis
of data while thematic analysis was used to analyze qualitative data. The findings revealed that:
generally participants had moderate to high levels of fear (n=199; M=57.4; SD=12.072); there
was a statistically significant association between levels of fear and levels of self-disclosure,
(χ2(4) = 11.722, p = .020) and that the highest levels of fear were experienced upon diagnosis but
reduced in the course of treatment and over time. Participants acknowledged the benefits of selfdisclosure
but were discouraged by fear of negative responses from the general population.
Participants self-disclosed to family at the highest level (81.9%) and to health personnel at the
lowest level (25.4%) for low to moderate levels of self-disclosure. It was therefore concluded
that patients’ perception of cancer as a fearful illness affected their levels of self-disclosure
especially to health personnel. More self-disclosure was done to family members who have
limited capability of attending to all the needs of the patient. This may mean that some needs
remain unattended to, impacting negatively on quality of life and effectiveness of treatment
towards recovery. The study recommended the need to involve mental health professionals in the
cancer management team. It also recommended further studies to be carried out among patients
and general population on awareness of cancer management so as to provide scientific evidence
to address the stigma and fear of cancer.
Description
A Research Project Submitted to the School of Humanities and Social Sciences in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Award of the Degree of Master of Arts (Counselling Psychology) of Kenyatta University February, 2020
Keywords
Cancer Illness, Self-Disclosure, Adult Patients, Kenyatta National Hospital, Cancer Treatment Center, Nairobi City County, Kenya