Health as a Value from the Viewpoint of Patients After Completing Their Treatment of a Neoplastic Disease

Abstract

Introduction: Health is attributed with different meanings, both semantic and axiological, depending on our current life situation. Apparently, when we are free of any ailment, we do not think much about health and our actions are aimed at performing social tasks and roles. It is only when we fall ill or recover from an illness that we realise what health means to us. Research Aim: The objective of this study has been to determine the value of health in the opinion of patients who have completed their treatment of a neoplastic illness in relation to the duration of the treatment and socio-demographic circumstances. Method: The study involved a group of 51 persons aged 15 to 49 years, who had gone through the process of treatment of neoplastic disease. The study was carried out using a standardised research tool called the Health Criteria List, developed by Juczyński, which defines health in five aspects: condition, outcome, process, property and goal. Results: For the respondents, health understood as ‘condition’, ‘goal’ and ‘result’ proved to be the most important, while health seen as ‘property’ or ‘process’ mattered less, and consequently these aspects scored lower in the hierarchy of importance. Conclusion: Encouraging one to reflect on one’s health and take care of it is important for the current condition and future health, which will certainly allow one to achieve the set life goals better.