• Ya-Ling Lee.
• School of Nursing, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, No. 1 Jen-Ai Road Section 1, Taipei 10063, Taiwan, ROC. yallee@ha.mc.ntu.edu.tw
• J Nurs Res. 2006 Jun 1;14(2):133-42.

AbstractThe purposes of this study were to understand the levels of uncertainty and posttraumatic stress and to examine their relationships in young adult survivors of childhood cancer. A cross-sectional correlational design was used in this study. Mailed survey was the data collection method. The Mishel Uncertainty in Illness Scale-Community Form was the measure of uncertainty. The University of California at Los Angeles Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Index was the measure of posttraumatic stress. A total of 46 (51.1%) survivors responded to the survey and the analysis was based on data from 45. Participants reported a mean 51.3 (SD = 14.5, range = 23 to 90) level of uncertainty; and a mean 15.7 (SD = 11.0, range = 0 to 43) level of posttraumatic stress. Uncertainty was positively correlated with posttraumatic stress (r = .40, p = .039). The re- conceptualization of the Uncertainty in Illness Theory (UIT) and developmental perspectives can explain the relationships between uncertainty and posttraumatic stress in the young adult survivors of childhood cancer. The re-conceptualization of UIT can serve as a guide for future studies.

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