Maturity Level of the Stigma Concept Associated with Cancer Diagnosis in the Nursing Literature

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the maturity level of stigma as a concept in nursing and its relationship<br />to care provided for patients with cancer. Methods: The four principles of Morse and his colleagues were used to<br />evaluate the maturity level of the stigma concept: epistemological, logical, pragmaticl, and linguistic. Analysis was<br />conducted with the literature published between 2006 and 2016. Results: The findings of this study suggest that the<br />concept of stigma in nursing is immature, defined inconsistently, and measured with different instruments. How stigma<br />is defined can influence nurses in their assessment of patients with cancer and identification of their needs. Conclusion:<br />Although extensive studies have been conducted in the field of mental illness, it is only recently that the effect of stigma<br />on treatment of cancer patients has attracted attention. Thus, substantial work yet needs to be done to understand the<br />breadth and scope of stigma impacting on individuals with cancer.