Abstract

This study was conducted to explore the relationship between locus of control and health belief. the life style of gastric cancer patients. The subjects of this study were 40 of the early gastric cancer and 90 of the advanced gastric cancer who first visiting patient to general surgery out patient department of Chungnam University Hospital for operation. The data was collected with structured questionnaire from July. 1998 to Feb. 1999 The tool were Moon's Health Belief Scale and Multiple Locus of Control of Wallston. Wallston, DeVellis. The data was analysed by SAS program using frequency, chi2-test, Pearson's correlation coefficient, ANOVA. Scheffe-test, t-test. The results were as follows 1. 30.8% of subjects were early gastric cancer anf 69.2% were advanced gastric cancer. The subject knowing about diagnosis was 83.1%. 16.9% did'nt know about diagnosis. 2. The correlationship between Health belief and Locus of control of subjects was not supported. 3. There was statistically no difference of life style between early and advanced gastric cancer patients. 4. There were statistically significant differences in perceived sensitivity according to weight. educational level. and birth order, in perceived barrier according to educational level. and in perceived severity according to occupation among demographic characteristics of study subjects. From above results. health professional has to educate general population to detect gastric cancer early to improve survival rate because early gastric cancer is high in survival rate, and to prevent recurrence and to maintain continuing healthy status. In the future, gastroscopy also has to expand to detect early. For there was no difference in life style between early and advanced gastric cancer. carcinogen related to diet should be emphasized through education. The perceived benefit among health belief model was not supported in this study therefore further study and comparison between gastric cancer and normal population are needed.