Abstract
The present study developed the decisional balance scale for lung cancer patients to assess the benefits (pros) and the costs (cons) of out-patient chemotherapy. In addition, the decisional balance and the stages of change of out-patient chemotherapy were also examined. One hundred and five lung cancer patients receiving in-patient or out-patient chemotherapy were recruited to participate in this study. To develop the decisional balance scale of out-patient chemotherapy, we made 38 items of decisional-balance which included the items of pros and cons (19 each). The exploratory factor analysis and the analysis of variances (ANOVA) identified that the decisional balance scale of out-patient chemotherapy consisted of two factors (“pros” and “cons”) with each 10 items. It was confirmed that the decisional balance scale of out-patient chemotherapy had content validity, structural validity, factorial validity, and reliability. Furthermore, when the standard T scores of pros and cons at contemplation, preparation, and action stages were plotted, the intersection of pros and cons was located around the preparation stage. In conclusion, the decisional balance scale of out-patient chemotherapy was used as not only a valid instrument in introducing out-patient chemotherapy to patients, but also an educational material to encourage them to leave hospital.
