scholarly journals Death anxiety among advanced cancer patients: a cross-sectional survey

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yang Hong ◽  
Lu Yuhan ◽  
Gu Youhui ◽  
Wang Zhanying ◽  
Zheng Shili ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Advanced Cancer ◽  
Death Anxiety ◽  
Advanced Cancer Patients ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional

scholarly journals A qualitative exploration of the unmet information needs of Chinese advanced cancer patients and their informal caregivers

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tao Wang ◽  
Alex Molassiotis ◽  
Betty Pui Man Chung ◽  
Si-Lin Zheng ◽  
Hou-Qiang Huang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Advanced Cancer ◽  
Information Needs ◽  
Informal Caregivers ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Advanced Cancer Patients ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Psychological Burden ◽  
Positive Effects

Abstract Background Studies in the West have demonstrated that appropriate informational support is a vital component of cancer care, with positive effects on both patients and their informal caregivers. Since little is known about the information needs of advanced cancer patients and informal caregivers in China, where ‘silence as virtue’ is much more valued and the communication style is less open, this study was therefore conducted to elaborate the information needs of advanced cancer patients and informal caregivers as well as to explore their perceptions and experiences regarding their unmet information needs in the Chinese context. Methods This sub-study of a previous cross-sectional survey utilized a qualitative descriptive study design. The approach involved semi-structured interviews that followed an interview guide to collect data. Eligible participants were the advanced cancer patients and informal caregivers who had participated in the previous cross-sectional survey and reported unmet information needs. Each interview was audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Descriptive content analysis was used to analyze the data. Results Seventeen advanced cancer patients and 15 informal caregivers with unmet information needs participated in the semi-structured interviews, with ages ranging from 32 to 63 years old for patients and from 32 to 70 for informal caregivers. Four categories were extracted from the interviews with the patients and caregivers: (1) types of unmet information needs; (2) reasons for information needs not being met; (3) preferences for the provision of information; and (4) meaning and role of information. Each category had two to four sub-categories for both the patients and the caregivers, which were similar but not completely the same. Conclusion The findings indicated that the provision of appropriate information could promote informed decision-making and greater satisfaction with treatment options, reductions in psychological disturbances, and enhanced confidence and ability in self-management and capacity in caregiving. Moreover, information on Traditional Chinese Medicine and food therapy should be increased, particularly for patients at the follow-up stage, while the amount of information on prognosis should be flexible as it could increase patients’ and caregivers’ psychological burden. Healthcare professionals were the most preferred information provider, although their heavy workload resulted in time constraints. In this case, they should provide information to patients and caregivers together as a ‘whole unit.’ At the same time, the value of separate conversations should also be recognized as some caregivers preferred to conceal unpleasant information from the patient.

scholarly journals Health-related quality of life and its socio-economic and cultural predictors among advanced cancer patients: evidence from the APPROACH cross-sectional survey in Hyderabad-India

2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean Jacob ◽  
Gayatri Palat ◽  
Naina Verghese ◽  
Priya Chandran ◽  
Vineela Rapelli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Advanced Cancer ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Pain Severity ◽  
Psychological State ◽  
Advanced Cancer Patients ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Minority Religions ◽  
Spiritual Well Being

Abstract Background Patients with advanced cancer often experience poor health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL) due to cancer and treatment-related side-effects. With India’s palliative care landscape in its infancy, there is a concern that advanced cancer patients, especially individuals who are from disadvantaged populations experience poor HRQoL outcomes. We aim to assess HRQoL of advanced cancer patients in terms of general well-being (physical, functional, emotional, and social/family well-being), pain experiences, psychological state, and spiritual well-being, and determine the relationship between belonging to a disadvantaged group and HRQoL outcomes. We hypothesize that patients from disadvantaged or minority backgrounds, identified in this paper as financially distressed, female, lower years of education, lower social/family support, minority religions, and Non-General Castes, would be associated with worse HRQoL outcomes compared to those who are not from a disadvantaged group. Methods We administered a cross-sectional survey to 210 advanced cancer patients in a regional cancer center in India. The questionnaire included standardized instruments for general well-being (FACT-G), pain experiences (BPI), psychological state (HADS), spiritual well-being (FACT-SP); socio-economic and demographic characteristics. Results Participants reported significantly lower general well-being (mean ± SD) (FACT-G = 62.4 ± 10.0) and spiritual well-being (FACT-SP = 32.7 ± 5.5) compared to a reference population of cancer patients in the U.S. Patients reported mild to moderate pain severity (3.2 ± 1.8) and interference (4.0 ± 1.6), normal anxiety (5.6 ± 3.1) and borderline depressive symptoms (9.7 ± 3.3). Higher financial difficulty scores predicted most of the HRQoL domains (p ≤ 0.01), and being from a minority religion predicted lower physical well-being (p ≤ 0.05) and higher pain severity (p ≤ 0.05). Married women reported lower social/family well-being (p ≤ 0.05). Pain severity and interference were significant predictors of most HRQoL domains. Conclusions Advanced cancer patients, especially those with lower financial well-being and belonging to minority religions, reported low physical, functional, emotional, social/family, and spiritual well-being, and borderline depressive symptoms. Future studies should be directed at developing effective interventions supporting vulnerable groups such as those with financial distress, and those belonging to minority religions.

scholarly journals Self-perceived Burden among Advanced Cancer Patients: A Cross-Sectional Survey

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xie Minyi ◽  
Zeng Xiaoe ◽  
Li Qiaomin ◽  
Guan Xiaofang ◽  
Li Siqing ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Advanced Cancer ◽  
Advanced Cancer Patients ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Perceived Burden

Insecure attachment predicts depression and death anxiety in advanced cancer patients

2017 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 308-316 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katharina Scheffold ◽  
Rebecca Philipp ◽  
Susan Koranyi ◽  
Dorit Engelmann ◽  
Frank Schulz-Kindermann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Attachment Style ◽  
Advanced Cancer ◽  
Attachment Styles ◽  
Death Anxiety ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Physical Symptoms ◽  
Insecure Attachment ◽  
Advanced Cancer Patients

ABSTRACTObjective:The prevalence of depression as well as adjustment and anxiety disorders is high in advanced cancer patients, and research exploring intraindividual factors leading to high psychological distress is underrepresented. Cancer patients' feelings about security and trust in their healthcare providers have a significant influence on how they deal with their disease. The perception of social support is affected by patients' attachment styles and influences their reactions to feelings of dependency and loss of control. We therefore aimed to explore attachment and its association with psychological distress in patients with advanced cancer.Method:We obtained data from the baseline measurements of a randomized controlled trial in advanced cancer patients. Patients were sampled from the university medical centers of Hamburg and Leipzig, Germany. The main outcome measures included the Patient Health Questionnaire, the Death and Dying Distress Scale, the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale, and the Experience in Close Relationships Scale for assessing attachment insecurity.Results:A total of 162 patients were included. We found that 64% of patients were insecurely attached (fearful-avoidant 31%, dismissing 17%, and preoccupied 16%). A dismissing attachment style was associated with more physical symptoms but did not predict psychological distress. A fearful-avoidant attachment style significantly predicted higher death anxiety and depression, whereas preoccupied attachment predicted higher death anxiety only. Overall, insecure attachment contributed to the prediction of depression (10%) and death anxiety (14%).Significance of results:The concept of attachment plays a relevant role in advanced cancer patients' mental health. Healthcare providers can benefit from knowledge of advanced cancer patients' attachment styles and how they relate to specific mental distress. Developing a better understanding of patients' reactions to feelings of dependency and distressing emotions can help us to develop individually tailored advanced cancer care programs and psychotherapeutic interventions.

Family caregivers of advanced cancer patients: self-perceived competency and meaning-making

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 435-442 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irene Teo ◽  
Drishti Baid ◽  
Semra Ozdemir ◽  
Chetna Malhotra ◽  
Ratna Singh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Family Caregivers ◽  
Advanced Cancer ◽  
Meaning Making ◽  
Negative Relationship ◽  
Psychological Outcomes ◽  
Advanced Cancer Patients ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Tertiary Hospitals ◽  
Anxiety Depression

BackgroundFamily caregivers of patients with advanced cancer have been reported to provide long hours of care and be at risk for poor psychological outcomes. Although research has focused on the nature of caregiving burden, little attention has been paid to identifying protective factors that improve caregiver psychological outcomes.AimWe examined the relationship between caregivers’ time spent caregiving and the following psychological outcomes: anxiety, depression and caregiving esteem. Subsequently, we explored the main and moderating effects of caregiver-perceived self-competency and sense of meaning on caregiver psychological outcomes.Design/participantsCross-sectional analysis was conducted using the baseline data from an ongoing cohort study. Family caregivers of advanced cancer patients (n=287) were recruited from two tertiary hospitals in Singapore.ResultsTime spent caregiving was not significantly associated with caregiver anxiety, depression or caregiving esteem. However, significant main effects of self-competency on anxiety and caregiving esteem; and sense of meaning on anxiety, depression and caregiving esteem were observed. Moderator analyses further indicated that self-competency attenuated the positive relationship between time spent caregiving and anxiety, while sense of meaning attenuated the negative relationship between time spent caregiving and caregiving esteem.ConclusionGreater perceived self-competency and sense of meaning are related to better caregiver psychological outcomes, and protect caregivers from worsening outcomes as caregiving hours increase. Our findings suggest that screening caregivers for distress is an important part of care, and that supportive interventions for caregivers should aim to enhance their perceived caregiving competencies and the ability to make meaning of their caregiving role.

scholarly journals The Quintessence of Traditional Chinese Medicine: Syndrome and Its Distribution among Advanced Cancer Patients with Constipation

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chung-Wah Cheng ◽  
Annie O. L. Kwok ◽  
Zhao-Xiang Bian ◽  
Doris M. W. Tse
Keyword(s):  
Chinese Medicine ◽  
Traditional Chinese Medicine ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Advanced Cancer ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Advanced Cancer Patients ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndrome ◽  
Blood Haemoglobin ◽  
Tcm Syndrome

Constipation is a common problem in advanced cancer patients; however, specific clinical guidelines on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome (Zhang) are not yet available. In this cross-sectional study, the TCM syndromes distribution and their common symptoms and signs among 225 constipated advanced cancer patients were determined. Results showed that 127 patients (56.4%) and 7 patients (3.1%) were in deficient and excessive patterns, respectively, while 91 patients (40.4%) were in deficiency-excess complex. The distributions of the five syndromes were:Qideficiency (93.3%),Qistagnation (40.0%), blood (Yin) deficiency (28.9%), Yang deficiency (22.2%), and excess heat (5.8%). Furthermore, age, functional status, and level of blood haemoglobin were factors related to the type of TCM syndrome. A TCM prescription with the functions on replenishing the Deficiency, redirecting the flow ofQistagnation and moistening the dryness caused by the blood (Yin) deficiency can be made for the treatment of advance cancer patients with constipation. Robust trials are urgently needed for further justifying its efficacy and safety in evidence-based approaches.

scholarly journals The prevalence of perceived stigma and self-blame and their associations with depression, emotional well-being and social well-being among advanced cancer patients: evidence from the APPROACH cross-sectional study in Vietnam

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nguyen Tuong Pham ◽  
Jia Jia Lee ◽  
Nhu Hiep Pham ◽  
Thi Do Quyen Phan ◽  
Khoa Tran ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Advanced Cancer ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Perceived Stigma ◽  
Advanced Cancer Patients ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Self Blame

Abstract Background There is very limited evidence on the existence of cancer-related perceived stigma and self-blame among patients with advanced cancer in Asia, and how they are associated with psychosocial outcomes. This study aimed to address the gap in the current literature by (1) assessing perceived stigma, behavioural self-blame and characterological self-blame among Vietnamese patients with advanced cancer, and (2) investigating the associations of perceived stigma and self-blame (behavioural and characterological) with depression, emotional well-being and social well-being. Methods This cross-sectional study involved 200 Vietnamese patients with stage IV solid cancer. Depression was measured using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) Scale. Emotional well-being and social well-being were measured with the relevant domains of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G) scale. Perceived stigma was assessed using the sense of stigma subscale of Kissane’s Shame and Stigma Scale. Behavioural self-blame and characterological self-blame were measured by the patients’ answers to the questions on whether their cancer was due to patient’s behaviour or character. Multivariable linear regressions were used to investigate the associations while controlling for patient characteristics. Results Approximately three-fourths (79.0%, n = 158) of the participants reported perceived stigma with an average score of 20.5 ± 18.0 (out of 100). More than half of the participants reported behavioural self-blame (56.3%, n = 112) or characterological self-blame (62.3%, n = 124). Higher perceived stigma was associated with lower emotional well-being (ß = -0.0; p = 0.024). Behavioural self-blame was not significantly associated with depressive symptoms, emotional well-being or social well-being. Patients who reported characterological self-blame reported greater depressive symptoms (ß = 3.0; p = 0.020) and lower emotional well-being (ß = -1.6; p = 0.038). Conclusion Perceived stigma and self-blame were common amongst Vietnamese advanced cancer patients. Perceived stigma was associated with lower emotional well-being while characterological self-blame were associated with greater depressive symptoms and lower emotional well-being. Interventions should address perceived stigma and self-blame among this population.

scholarly journals The Impact Of Death Anxiety On Quality Of Life Among Cancer Patients: A Case Of Bahawalpur And Multan District

2021 ◽  
Vol 58 (1) ◽  
pp. 5473-5477
Author(s):  
Siraj Hussain Et al.
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Death Anxiety ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Difference ◽  
The Impact

The current study aimed to carved the impact of death anxiety on quality of life among cancer patients. The study focused to find out the difference of death anxiety in the context of gender and socio-demographic factors; and to seek out the impact of death anxiety on the quality of life of cancer patients. Purposive sampling technique was opted to collect the N= 110 cancer patients from Victoria hospital Bahawalpur and the Minar hospital Multan though the cross-sectional survey research design. The instrument was adopted from Lemming fear of death anxiety scale and WHOQOL. To cognizant the study Correlation t-test was computed which put forth that women cancer patients have a positive correlation between death anxiety and the quality of life.  The conclusion is there is an impact of death anxiety on quality of life among patients who were hospitalized. Death anxiety has a negative impact on quality of life among cancer patients. Patients both male and female experience death anxiety at a certain level that may impact their quality of life, cancer patients who were hospitalized they have more death anxiety than other cancer patients. Septate Psychological counseling sessions can assist to decline the death anxiety among cancer patients.

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