Adjustment ability and associated factors of outpatients living with cancer

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To clarify the adjustment ability of outpatients with cancer, associated factors and the relationship between adjustment ability and associated factors. DESIGN: Quantitative study. METHODS: Anonymous self‐reported questionnaire (adjustment ability scale of outpatients with cancer) responses, patient background information and possible associated factors were collected from 369 cancer outpatients. RESULTS: The mean ± SD adjustment ability score was 110.5 ± 27.2. Several factors were associated with adjustment ability. The Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy‐General Scale, used to measure quality of life (QOL), was significantly higher in people with an adjustment ability score >95. The factor that was most related to the adjustment ability score was how people think about asking for support from others. The adjustment ability was higher among people who thought, “I should be supported by others for the things I cannot do by myself”.