Uncertainty regarding the disease in the elderly diagnosed with cancer [la incertidumbre frente a la enfermedad en adultos mayores con diagnóstico de cáncer]

Objective: To determine the relationship between the level of uncertainty and the sociodemographic characteristics in elderly diagnosed with cancer. Material and methods: Quantitative, cross-sectional correlational study, with a non-probabilistic sample of 60 elderly diagnosed with cancer. The study was conducted at the National Cancer Corporation, Region of Valparaíso, Chile for a period of 6 weeks. In order to collect the data the Mishel Uncertainty in Illness Scale (MUIS) was used. For the descriptive statistical analysis we used mean and central tendency measures and for the correlation analysis we used Pearson correlation, the ANOVA test and a lineal regression model. Results: 54.8% of elderly show a high uncertainty level. Educational level is negatively correlated with uncertainty (R=0.54, p-value=0.0492). 28.99% (adjusted R2, 35DF) of variation in uncertainty is explained as related to educational level. We did not find a significant correlation with other sociodemographic characteristics. Conclusion: It was confirmed that educational level is correlated with uncertainty level; a linear model to predict uncertainty level based on the educational level of elderly hosted by CONAC is also proposed.