ObjectiveTo explore the level of hope of patients with tumor recurrence and its affecting factors. MethodsPatients with tumor recurrence admitted in West China Hospital from March 2014 to March 2015 were included in this study. Questionnaire survey was conducted to collect the general information of the patients and the information on their coping style, level of hope and social support. The structural equation model was used to analyze the factors that affect the level of hope in patients with tumor recurrence. ResultsA total of 431 patients were included. The average score of hope in patients with tumor recurrence was 32.88±5.83. Among these patients, 27 (6.26%) had low level of hope, 277 (64.27%) had medium level of hope and 127 (29.47%) had high level of hope. The result of univariate analysis showed that, the level of hope in different genders, marital status, education levels, income levels and types of tumors had significant differences (all P values＜0.05). The result of structural equation model showed that gender (r=-0.322, P<0.001), marital status (r=-0.243, P<0.001), education level (r=-0.219, P<0.001), income (r=0.116, P=0.021) and coping style (r=0.182, P=0.029) had direct effect on the level of hope in patients with tumor recurrence. Social support (r=0.255, P=0.027) and income (r=0.224, P=0.019) could indirectly affect patients’ coping style and therefore the level of hope. ConclusionMost patients with tumor recurrence have medium to high level of hope. Gender, marital status, education level, income and coping style have influence on the level of hope. More attention should be given to patients with low level of hope, and measures should be taken to improve the level of hope basing on the individual situations of patients with tumor recurrence.