Cancer coping, healthcare professionals' support and posttraumatic growth in brain-tumor patients

The purpose of this study was to explore the influence of cancer coping and healthcare professionals' support on posttraumatic growth in patients with brain tumors. A cross-sectional, correlational design was used, in which a structured questionnaire was administered to 114 patients at a tertiary university hospital. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent t-test or one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation, and hierarchical multiple regression analysis. Cancer coping (r = .33, p < .001) and healthcare professionals' support (r = .28, p = .002) correlated with posttraumatic growth. Among predictors, primary caregivers (brothers and sisters; beta = .28), interpersonal coping (beta = .26), and healthcare professionals' support (beta = .20) had statistically significant influences on posttraumatic growth. The regression model explained approximately 22.0% of posttraumatic growth. These results contribute to cancer coping and healthcare professionals' support to significantly influence posttraumatic growth.