Perceived Dignity of Advanced Cancer Patients and Its Relationship to Sociodemographic, Clinical, and Psychological Factors

Frontiers in Psychology

Caterina Calderon¹  Mireia Gil-Raga²  Manuel González-Moya³  Miguel García-Carrasco³  Helena López-Ceballos⁴  Paula Jiménez-Fonseca⁵  Berta Obispo⁶  Jacobo Rogado⁶  Patricia Cruz-Castellanos⁷  Raquel Hernandez⁸ 

[1] Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain;Department of Medical Oncology, Consorci Hospital General Universitario de Valencia, Valencia, Spain;Department of Medical Oncology, Hospital Quirónsalud, Seville, Spain;Department of Medical Oncology, Hospital San Pedro de Alcántara de Cáceres, Cáceres, Spain;Department of Medical Oncology, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, Oviedo, Spain;Department of Medical Oncology, Hospital Universitario Infanta Leonor, Madrid, Spain;Department of Oncology Medical, Hospital Universitario La Paz, Madrid, Spain;Department of Oncology Medical, Hospital Universitario de Canarias, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain;

关键词: advanced cancer;    dignity;    quality of life;    social support;    mental adjustment;    psychological factors;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fpsyg.2022.855704

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

ObjectiveLoss of dignity is one of the main reasons for wishing for an early death in patients with incurable diseases such as cancer and is strongly associated with psychological distress and loss of quality of life. The present study aims to analyze the perceived dignity of patients with advanced cancer undergoing systemic treatment and their relationship with sociodemographic, clinical, and psychological factors.MethodsA prospective, cross-sectional, multicenter study was conducted in 15 oncology departments in Spain. Patients with locally advanced, unresectable, or metastatic cancer who were candidates for systemic treatment were included. Participants completed demographic information and Palliative Patients’ Dignity Scale, Brief Symptom Inventory, Mental Adjustment to Cancer, Functional Social Support Questionnaire, and Illness Uncertainty.ResultsA total of 508 patients were recruited between February 2020 and October 2021. Most were male, aged > 65 years, with digestive tumors (41%), and metastatic disease at diagnosis. Subjects were classified as having low (56%, N = 283) or high (44%, N = 225) perceived dignity. Patients ≥ 65 years, with worse baseline status (ECOG ≥ 1), and worse estimated 18-month survival had lower levels of perceived dignity. People with lower perceived dignity scored higher for anxious preoccupation and hopelessness and lower for positive attitude. They also displayed higher levels of anxiety, depression, and somatic symptoms, greater uncertainty, and less social support.ConclusionSelf-perceived dignity in advancer cancer patients is significantly associated with psychological factors, psychological distress, uncertainty, less social support. Knowledge of these specific interactions is importance for adequate, comprehensive palliative care.

【 授权许可】

Unknown