Health-promoting lifestyle factors of cancer survivors in Taiwan.

This study set out, using a prospective design, to examine the health-promoting lifestyle factors for cancer survivors. A questionnaire, based on the health promotion model, was used to collect self-reported data during clinical visits on the health-promoting lifestyle factors related to cancer and the health locus of control. A total of 57 cancer patients were followed up from the date of their interview to the date of their death from the disease. After controlling for age, sex, type of cancer, operation, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and the number of months since cancer diagnosis, the external control and chance locus were identified as statistically significant preventive factors for these cancer patients. Although self-efficacy, social support, and health promotion lifestyle were all found to have no significant influences on the survival of these cancer patients, the survivors were found to be more likely to have higher scores on health promotion lifestyle factors and lower scores on self-efficacy. These results contribute to the information required for consideration of the cultural variables aimed at caring for cancer patients.